Authorities in Mali have released more than 100 suspected jihadists in recent days as part of a controversial agreement aimed at halting attacks on fuel convoys and easing a worsening energy crisis.
According to multiple official and security sources cited by AFP on Sunday, the release is tied to a truce with the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an affiliate of Al-Qaeda, which has been responsible for repeated assaults on tanker routes.
Since September, these attacks have severely disrupted fuel transportation, bringing economic activity in the capital, Bamako, to a near standstill, particularly during the peak of the crisis in October.
Local officials confirmed that the release of detainees was carried out in exchange for safe passage of fuel convoys, creating a temporary humanitarian and economic relief corridor.
“We learned this week that more than a hundred young people accused of being jihadists have been released by the state security services, and in return, fuel convoys have not been attacked,” a local elected representative told AFP.
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Security sources indicated that the truce is expected to remain in effect until Eid al-Adha—known locally as Tabaski—scheduled for the end of May.
The agreement has also reportedly included the release of individuals from the Fulani ethnic group, who are often caught in the crossfire of counterterrorism operations due to perceived associations with armed groups.
While the deal has brought short-term relief to fuel shortages, it raises broader concerns about security and governance in Mali, where a prolonged insurgency has persisted since 2012.
The country continues to grapple with escalating violence involving extremist groups linked to both Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, alongside widespread criminal activity, further complicating efforts to restore stability in the region.
For many residents, the reopening of fuel supply routes offers immediate respite—but uncertainty remains over the long-term implications of negotiating with armed groups.