Mali separatists release 82 soldiers, including some held since a major attack in April

Bamako, Mali (AP) — Separatists in northern Mali have released 82 soldiers, including some held captive since a major attack in April, according to a statement from the Malian Armed Forces and a rebel spokesperson. The "freed soldiers are now safe and being cared for by the relevant authorities," the military said. Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, a spokesperson for the Azawad Liberation Front, confirmed the release.

The separatist group has been battling militant groups aligned with al-Qaida and the Islamic State, as well as a Tuareg-led rebellion in the north for over a decade. Violence intensified in recent months after a coordinated attack on April 25 by a joint effort of JNIM and Tuareg separatists, targeting the airport in the capital, Bamako, the nearby garrison town of Kati, and various northern and central cities.

Ramadane noted that the soldiers were released on humanitarian grounds, and that some had been detained since 2023. Currently, 118 Malian soldiers remain in captivity.