The Malian Army on Monday, March 30, dismissed reports that it released about 200 suspected terrorists in mid-March in exchange for halting attacks on fuel convoys, describing the claims as false and misleading.
At a press briefing on Monday, Souleymane Dembele, Director of Information and Public Relations for the Armed forces, said the allegations were intended to damage the country’s image and erode public trust in state institutions and security forces. He stressed that the reports were baseless and lacked credible sources.
The denial follows months of attacks on tanker convoys by an Al Qaeda-linked group, which have disrupted fuel supplies and at one point brought the capital, Bamako, to a standstill, particularly during the peak of the crisis in October 2025.
The situation has contributed to fuel shortages, with residents experiencing a diesel crisis in early March as supplies were prioritized for energy production. Mali has faced persistent insecurity since 2012, driven by extremist groups and criminal networks operating across the country.