Tuareg rebels free about 60 Malian soldiers in prisoner swap, say sources

Bamako [Mali], August 30: Tuareg rebels have freed about 60 Malian soldiers in exchange for one of their own leaders, a former Malian army officer turned defector named Inkinane Ag Attaher, security sources have said.
Ag Attaher was a prominent figure in the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) when he was arrested by Nigerian security forces near the Niger-Nigeria border in 2025. He was accused of orchestrating drone training, coordinating deadly attacks in Mali and acting as an international liaison.
"Around 60 soldiers were transported on Thursday to Niger to be exchanged for Inkinane Ag Attaher and individuals allegedly linked to JNIM [Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin]," a group affiliated with al-Qaeda, a Malian security source told AFP news agency. The agreement was directly overseen by Niger's government, a second security source said. (Agencies)
Source: Qatar Tribune