Bamako, Aug13. (dpa/GNA) – Dozens of soldiers kept hostage for months by Islamist militias in Mali, have been freed by government forces, army officials in the West African country announced on Thursday.
The 82 captives had been held since April by a coalition of Tuareg rebels from the FLA (Azawad Liberation Front) and the al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group JNIM, the authorities said.
Mali has for years been challenged by rebel and jihadist groups, who are are particularly active in the north and centre of the country, which has a population of 25 million.
GNA