Mali’s military said Thursday that 82 soldiers captured during coordinated attacks in April have been released.
The army stated the troops were “held hostage” by armed groups linked to the JNIM-FLA coalition. JNIM, the regional al Qaeda affiliate, and the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front both claimed responsibility for the April 25 assaults that targeted Mali’s main airport and killed the country’s defence minister.
According to the military, the release followed “rigorous planning and coordinated mobilisation” of the resources needed for the operation. No further details about how the soldiers were freed were given.
The same two groups also said they carried out attacks on army positions across Mali on July 4.
Mali has been battling insurgencies since 2012. JNIM was formed in 2017 and has grown stronger since military leaders who took power in the 2020 and 2021 coups expelled about 15,000 French and U.N. troops. The junta then brought in Russian mercenaries to support its defence efforts.
