Mali says Tuareg rebels have released soldiers

 

TT-AFP

 

Published 15.58

 

Soldiers in the Tuareg separatist movement. Archive photo. Photo: David Guttenfelder/AP/TT

The Malian government said on Sunday that the Tuareg movement had released 22 government soldiers.

The latest release follows several similar releases by the separatist movement in recent times.

The Tuareg, who sometimes collaborate with Islamist extremist movements, took a large number of Malian soldiers prisoner in attacks in April and July.

The government in Bamako has fought rebels and separatist movements on several fronts over the past decade, but this spring's attacks on government soldiers were extensive and coordinated.

Since mid-August, almost 100 Malian soldiers have been released, according to Bamako. The Tuareg separatist movement FLA confirmed the release on Sunday but did not specify a number.