Tuareg rebels free more Malian soldiers in prisoner swap, sources say

Tuareg rebels have freed approximately 60 Malian soldiers in exchange for the release of Inkinane Ag Attaher, a former Malian army officer turned Tuareg rebel leader, according to security sources. The prisoner swap, conducted near the Niger-Nigeria border, was overseen by Niger’s government, as confirmed by two separate security sources.

Ag Attaher, a prominent figure in the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), was arrested by Nigerian security forces in 2025. He had been accused of orchestrating drone training, coordinating deadly attacks in Mali, and serving as an international liaison for militant activities. The exchange also included individuals allegedly linked to Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-affiliated group, according to a Malian security source quoted by AFP.

Mohamed El Maouloud Ramadane, an FLA spokesman, publicly welcomed Ag Attaher’s release in a Facebook post, expressing support for his continued involvement in the struggle. The development follows a pattern of prisoner releases in northern Mali, involving not only Malian soldiers but also Russian mercenaries and Tuareg rebels held in Malian prisons. Algerian mediation has reportedly played a role in facilitating the releases, with Malian sources indicating Algeria’s involvement in negotiations.

The prisoner swap coincides with renewed diplomatic efforts between Mali and Algeria, despite public declarations from Bamako that it will not engage in talks with groups it designates as terrorists. General Abdoulaye Maiga, Mali’s prime minister, visited Algiers on Monday to re-establish high-level discussions, following tensions over regional security policies.

Recent weeks have seen a surge in violence, with JNIM and the FLA claiming responsibility for coordinated attacks on April 25, targeting Bamako’s airport and other locations. On that day, Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in a bombing at his residence in Kati. The groups also claimed responsibility for further attacks on Malian army positions on July 4.

Elisee Jean Dao, chief of staff of Mali’s armed forces, reiterated the government’s commitment to combating armed groups. “Wherever the enemy is, we will go after them and defeat them, until they lay down their weapons,” he stated. “For those who are Malians, our country has a peace process that allows them to come back. So I want to make that appeal again. It is not too late. The door is still open.”

Nicolas Haque, an Al Jazeera correspondent, noted that fighting continues beyond Mali’s borders across the Sahel region. However, the prisoner releases and Algeria’s mediation efforts could pave the way for further releases of detained soldiers.

Mali has been embroiled in a civil war since 2012, when a Tuareg separatist uprising in the north escalated into broader conflict involving al-Qaeda and ISIL-affiliated groups. The military seized power in a 2021 coup, vowing to restore stability and national unity.

Since then, JNIM has gained strength following the Malian government’s decision to expel French forces and United Nations peacekeepers, instead turning to Russian paramilitary support for security. While the FLA positions itself as a secular nationalist movement seeking independence for the Azawad region, JNIM’s affiliation with al-Qaeda represents a stark ideological contrast. Despite this, the two groups have reportedly collaborated to challenge the Malian government, prioritizing their shared opposition over ideological differences.