Jihadist Prisoners Released in Mali in Exchange for Fuel Convoy Truce. Bamako, Mali — More than 100 suspected jihadists have been freed in Mali as part of a deal to secure a truce against attacks on fuel convoys, officials and security sources told AFP on Sunday.
The agreement aims to alleviate severe fuel shortages in the capital, Bamako, which had been impacted by the disruptions caused by the Al — Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM).
Since September, JNIM has repeatedly targeted tanker convoys, leading to acute fuel shortages.
A local elected official confirmed the release of “more than 100 jihadists “in exchange for “the opening of a corridor to allow convoys of tanker lorries to pass through.”Security sources indicated that the truce is expected to last until the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha (Tabaski) at the end of May.
In addition to the jihadists, members of the Fulani ethnic group, who are often conflated with jihadists, have also been released. Mali, a landlocked country, has been facing a deep security crisis since 2012, with violence from Al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates alongside criminal gangs.
The government has not yet commented on the details of the deal, but the truce is seen as a significant development in the ongoing conflict.
The release of prisoners and the securing of fuel convoys are intended to ease the economic and humanitarian situation in Mali, which has been strained by the ongoing conflict.
The situation remains fluid, and further details are expected as the truce unfolds.
The agreement’s success will depend on the ability of the parties involved to maintain the cease-fire and ensure the safe passage of fuel convoys.
