The Malian army on Monday firmly denied allegations that it released about 200 suspected jihadists in mid-March as part of a deal to halt attacks on fuel convoys that have severely disrupted the country’s economy.
Reports from security and political sources had initially suggested that more than 100 detainees were freed, but subsequent accounts from a Malian security official and a local elected representative put the figure closer to 200. The reported arrangement was said to include a temporary truce lasting until the Muslim festival of Tabaski at the end of May.
However, the military dismissed the claims as false and misleading.
“These remarks, reported by certain media outlets, are intended to tarnish Mali’s image and undermine trust between the people and their institutions, and particularly between the Malian people and their defence and security forces,” said Souleymane Dembele, director of information and public relations for the armed forces, during a press briefing.
“This is pure manipulation, completely unfounded and lacking any reliable source,” he added.
Mali has faced mounting pressure from sustained attacks on fuel transport routes by jihadist fighters linked to the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an affiliate of Al-Qaeda. Since September, these attacks have targeted tanker convoys supplying the capital, Bamako, bringing economic activity to a near standstill during the peak of the crisis in October.
Although the security situation had stabilised in recent months, residents of Bamako experienced renewed diesel shortages in early March, with limited supplies prioritised for electricity generation.
According to earlier reports, the alleged deal to release detainees coincided with a significant improvement in fuel deliveries to the capital following the resumption of convoy movements in mid-March. At the time, local sources said two of the freed suspects had died shortly after their release, while another was reported dead on Sunday, according to family members.
Mali has been grappling with a deepening security crisis since 2012, driven by the activities of jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, alongside criminal networks and pro-independence factions operating across the country.
Boluwatife Enome
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