Mali has released more than 100 suspected jihadists in a move aimed at halting attacks on fuel convoys that have crippled the country, sources within the government and security services told Zoyols. The agreement comes after months of disruption that left the capital, Bamako, struggling to access essential fuel supplies.
Since last September, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate, has targeted tanker convoys across the country. By October, the strikes had brought much of the nation to a standstill, deepening an already severe economic and humanitarian crisis.
A local elected official confirmed the deal to Zoyols, describing it as an exchange: “More than a hundred young men accused of being jihadists were released by state security services. In return, fuel convoys have been allowed to pass safely.” The truce is expected to hold at least until the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, known locally as Tabaski, at the end of May.
The agreement also saw the release of several Fulani individuals, an ethnic group often unfairly associated with jihadist activity, according to representatives of the community.
Mali’s security challenges stretch back to 2012, when a mix of jihadist groups, local criminal gangs, and extremist factions linked to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State began destabilizing the region. The recent deal reflects the government’s ongoing struggle to balance security concerns with the urgent need to keep essential goods flowing to the population.
