Authorities in Mali have released more than 100 suspected jihadists as part of a deal aimed at ending attacks on fuel convoys and restoring supply to the capital, Bamako.
The agreement follows months of disruption caused by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), which had repeatedly targeted tanker trucks since September, leading to severe fuel shortages.
According to local officials and security sources, the prisoner release was negotiated in exchange for safe passage of fuel convoys, allowing tanker lorries to move freely into Bamako once again.
Sources indicate that the truce is expected to hold until Eid al-Adha, offering temporary relief to residents affected by the shortages.
Reports also suggest that members of the Fulani ethnic group were among those released, amid ongoing concerns about the conflation of ethnic identity with militant activity in the region.
Mali has been grappling with a prolonged security crisis since 2012, with persistent violence involving extremist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, as well as criminal networks.
The latest development highlights the difficult trade-offs authorities face in trying to stabilise the country while addressing urgent humanitarian and economic challenges.
