Mali's military announced on Thursday the release of 82 soldiers who had been held captive by armed groups in the country's northern region. The soldiers were reportedly taken hostage during nationwide attacks in April, according to a statement aired on state television.

The statement emphasized that the release was the culmination of a process initiated immediately after their capture, and confirmed that the soldiers are now safe and under the care of authorities. The freed troops were said to have been held by al-Qaeda-linked fighters and a separatist rebel group.

The al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) and the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) claimed responsibility for the April 25 attacks on Bamako's airport and other locations, which also resulted in the death of Defense Minister Sadio Camara.

In a separate statement, the FLA said it had released around 80 Malian soldiers taken prisoner between 2023 and 2026, citing "strictly humanitarian" reasons. A spokesperson noted that some captives had been held since 2023, while approximately 118 others remain in captivity.

A source in Mali's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told AFP that Algeria mediated the release. Mali has been embroiled in a civil war since 2012, with the military ruling since a 2021 coup and relying on Russian paramilitary support after the withdrawal of French forces and UN peacekeepers.

Despite ideological differences, JNIM and FLA have set aside their disputes to confront the Malian government, with JNIM reportedly gaining strength in recent years. The release marks a rare humanitarian breakthrough amid ongoing conflict.

Source: www.aljazeera.com