Following several months in captivity, 82 Malian soldiers released on August 13 expressed their intent on Monday in Bamako to resume active duty alongside the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa).
They were received by head of state General Assimi Goïta at the Koulouba Palace for their official presentation.
The freed soldiers thanked the government for the efforts undertaken to secure their release and their access to medical care. They also reaffirmed their commitment to carrying out their mission and safeguarding national territorial integrity.
Speaking on behalf of his fellow servicemen, Colonel Adama Bakayoko, acting as spokesperson for the released troops, assured the president of their readiness to rejoin their comrades and return to the front lines.
He also called on the public to support the Malian Armed Forces, describing their commitment as a fight for national sovereignty and the defense of Mali’s vital interests.
Goita as transition president received the soldiers alongside key officials, including General Oumar Diarra, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs, and Major General Élisée Jean Dao, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces.
General Dao praised the “resilience” and “bravery” shown by the soldiers during their captivity, as well as their determination to rejoin their brothers-in-arms.
Furthermore, Major General Élisée Jean Dao stated that “no negotiations” were conducted with the captors. According to him, the authorities instead worked to create conditions that made holding the military personnel “untenable” for their abductors.
These efforts, he noted, were carried out under the direct instruction of the transition president, who remains committed to securing the release of all remaining Malian soldiers held captive or reported missing.
The reception took place a day after the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) handed over six wounded Malian soldiers to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The medical evacuation, conducted on August 16 from Kidal to Gao, was confirmed by the ICRC, which declined to specify the military affiliation of the evacuees in line with its neutrality policy.
Including these six wounded soldiers and the 82 personnel freed on August 13, reports from various parties indicate that 88 Malian soldiers have been released from captivity in recent days.
While the precise number of soldiers still in custody remains unclear, Malian authorities maintain that efforts are ongoing to locate and free all personnel still missing or held captive.
MD/ac/Sf/lb/as/APA