Twenty-two Malian soldiers held by Tuareg rebels have been released in a prisoner exchange, following a surge in attacks against the Malian army and ruling junta since spring. The releases were confirmed by security and junta sources, with the Tuareg-led Front de Libération de l'Azawad (FLA) acknowledging the release of "some prisoners of war" on Facebook. Some soldiers were recently captured, while others had been detained for over three years, amid ongoing conflict with the FLA and their JNIM (Al-Qaeda affiliated) allies. The attacks, beginning in April, resulted in the death of Defense Minister Sadio Camara and the capture of the soldiers. The release follows a similar exchange involving at least eight rebel fighters, demonstrating a continued complex dynamic in the region. Mali has faced a significant security crisis since 2012, exacerbated by two military coups in 2020 and 2021.