Mali says 82 soldiers captured by armed groups have been freed | Armed Groups News
Malian Army Reports Release of 82 Soldiers Held by Armed Groups
Mali’s military announced Thursday that 82 soldiers, previously held captive by armed groups in the northern part of the country, have been released. This information was relayed in a statement that aired on state television.
The soldiers were reportedly captured during a series of attacks linked to al-Qaeda and a separatist group, following coordinated assaults on April 25, which targeted various locations, including Bamako’s airport. Notably, during these attacks, Mali’s Defense Minister Sadio Camara was killed in a bombing at his residence in Kati.
According to the Malian army, the release marks the resolution of a process that began immediately after the soldiers’ capture. The military has stated that the freed personnel are safe and are now under government care.
The armed groups involved include Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), linked to al-Qaeda, and the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). Both groups have claimed responsibility for a number of assaults on military positions across the country, notably on July 4.
In a statement on Thursday, the FLA indicated that it had released approximately 80 Malian soldiers taken prisoner between 2023 and 2026. However, the group has not clarified the inconsistency regarding the Malian army’s timeline of captivity, which states the soldiers were held since the April 25 attacks.
Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, a spokesperson for the FLA, described the release as a measure taken for “strictly humanitarian” reasons. He noted that while some of these soldiers had been captives since 2023, around 118 others remain imprisoned.
A source within Mali’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to the AFP news agency that Algeria facilitated the negotiations leading to the release.
Since 2012, Mali has been engulfed in a civil conflict that began with a Tuareg separatist rebellion in the north, subsequently evolving into violent campaigns by groups connected to both al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIL).
Since a coup in 2021, the military has assumed control of the government, vowing to restore stability and territorial integrity. The rise of JNIM has been notable, especially following the withdrawal of French forces and around 15,000 United Nations peacekeepers from the country, alongside Mali’s reliance on Russian paramilitary groups for defense.
While JNIM aligns itself with al-Qaeda ideology, the FLA maintains a secular nationalist stance, advocating for independence for Mali’s Azawad region. Despite their ideological differences, both factions have united in their efforts against the Malian government.
