Tuareg separatists release Malian soldiers
The Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), a Tuareg separatist organisation present in Mali, has released 61 Malian soldiers on August 28th. According to RFI and agencies, the group also released some Nigerien and Burkinabè soldiers.
The soldiers were released near the border between Niger and Mali and were all declared to be in good shape.
According to local media, most of the men had been made prisoners approximately one year ago during attacks on the Kidal region in the northeast of the country, a Tuareg separatist stronghold.
Recent similar releases by militant groups have not gone unnoticed, as a pattern seems to be emerging.
FLA rebels have been seeking a cleaner and more humane image, particularly after the resurfacing of videos depicting brutal assassinations of soldiers and civilians by the al-Qaeda-affiliated JNIM, an ally of the FLA.
During the July 18th attack on a military convoy in the northern Gao region’s Tabrichat, at least 50 soldiers were killed when JNIM and FLA militants attacked a Malian Armed Forces (FAMA) and Russian Africa Corps convoy.
JNIM summarily executed another 18 soldiers following the ambush. While JNIM has shown fewer signs of smoothing its image, with the son of JNIM leader Iyad Ag Ghaly being directly involved in violence against a prisoner, the FLA has denied participating in the executions.
The FLA affirmed that its treatment of prisoners of war aligns with international law and human rights, distancing itself from the JNIM.
The soldiers are currently being brought back to Bamako, the Malian capital. In exchange for the release of the military prisoners, the Nigerien junta liberated a high official of the Azawad Liberation Group, arrested nearly 2 years ago on Nigerien territory.
12 Nigerien soldiers were released, as well as 7 Burkinabè troops. Negotiations between the leader of the military junta, Abdourahamane Tiani, and prominent members of the FLA are believed to have happened in order to get this release.
Further discussions to liberate more Malian soldiers are expected.
RFI and agencies, Maghrebi.org
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