Along the Niger-Mali border, where the Sahel's long war has worn down soldiers and rebels alike, a quiet exchange took place — roughly 60 Malian soldiers returned home in exchange for a Tuareg commander whose capture had made him a prize worth trading. Algeria worked in the background, Niger lent its authority to the arrangement, and the deal included figures tied to al-Qaeda's regional network. It is a reminder that even in conflicts defined by public declarations of no negotiation, the human need to recover the lost finds its own channels.
Tuareg rebels free 60 Malian soldiers in swap for detained leader
Approximately 60 Malian soldiers were held captive by Tuareg rebels and al-Qaeda-linked groups; Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in an April 25 bombing.