The move has led to speculation that Soumalia Cisse, a prominent opposition politician who has abducted, will be released in return.
Mali is one of the African countries along the Sahel where jihadist persecute Christians. [read more] 
Oct. 5.– Malian authorities have released 180 Islamic extremists from a prison in the capital and flown them to the country's north, an official confirmed late Sunday.
The move has fueled speculation that a prominent opposition politician held by jihadists could soon be freed after more than six months in captivity.
The militants who abducted Soumaila Cisse back in late March were believed to be seeking a prisoner exchange with the Malian government. Some 70 men were released on Saturday and another 110 on Sunday, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
There was no immediate comment late Sunday from Mali's transitional government, which was only recently put in place more than a month after the country's democratically elected president was ousted in a military coup.
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