Tuareg rebels release 60 Malian soldiers in prisoner swap

Tuareg rebels have released approximately 60 Malian soldiers in a prisoner exchange. According to security sources, the soldiers were transported to Niger to be traded for Inkinane Ag Attaher, a prominent leader of the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and a former Malian army officer.

Ag Attaher had been arrested by Nigerian security forces near the Niger-Nigeria border. He faced accusations of coordinating deadly attacks in Mali, acting as an international liaison, and orchestrating drone training. The exchange was reportedly overseen by the government of Niger and may have involved individuals linked to the al-Qaeda-affiliated group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).

While the Malian government has officially ruled out negotiations with groups it classifies as terrorists, the swap suggests that communication channels remain active. Algeria has reportedly played a role in mediating the release. In a related diplomatic move, Malian Prime Minister General Abdoulaye Maiga visited Algiers to attempt to re-establish high-level talks following regional security tensions.