Tuareg FLA Frees 60+ More Malian Soldiers at Niger Border in Third Prisoner Swap This Month

The Front de libération de l'Azawad (FLA) handed over more than 60 Malian soldiers to Niger's authorities at the two countries' border on August 28, 2026 — the third such release in less than three weeks, following 82 FAMa soldiers and 2 Wagner/Africa Corps personnel freed around August 13-14 and 22 more soldiers released around August 23. A Malian security source told AFP the swap also freed FLA field commander Inkinane Ag Attaher, arrested by Nigerien security forces near the Niger-Nigeria border in 2025, along with individuals reportedly linked to JNIM. Bamako and Niamey authorities did not publicly detail the exact terms; the released soldiers were transferred onto Nigerien territory, with their repatriation to Mali still being arranged by local authorities as of the exchange date.