Mali has freed more than 100 suspected or convicted jihadists as part of negotiations for the release of a prominent Malian politician and a kidnapped French charity worker, Soumaila Cisse and Sophie Pertronin respectively.
An official at the security services confirmed the information.
MalianAccording to the official, the prisoners were released in the central region of Niono and in Tessalit in the north after arriving by plane.
A lawmaker in Tessalit, who also requested anonymity, confirmed to newsmen that large numbers of jihadist prisoners arrived there on Sunday.
Sophie Petronin, a French charity worker, was abducted by gunmen on December 24, 2016, in the northern city of Gao.
The last video in which she appeared was received in June 2018.
She appeared tired and emaciated and appealed to French President Emmanuel Macron.
In another video in November 2018, in which she did not appear, her kidnappers said her health had deteriorated.
Soumaila Cisse is a former opposition leader and three-time presidential candidate.
He was seized on March 25 while campaigning in his home region of Niafounke ahead of legislative elections.
Mali, supported by France and UN peacekeepers, is struggling with an eight-year-old Islamist insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives.