Two French soldiers were killed when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in north-eastern Mali on Saturday (Jan 2), just days after three others died in similar fashion, reports The Straits Times.
Their deaths brought to 50 the number of French soldiers killed in the West African nation since France first intervened in 2013 to help drive back militant forces, according to army staff.
President Emmanuel Macron learnt with great sadness of the deaths of sergeant Yvonne Huynh and corporal Loic Risser in the Menaka region, his office said in a statement.
Sgt Huynh, aged 33 and the mother of a young child, is the first female soldier killed in the Sahel region since the French operation began.
Corporal Risser was 24. Both were members of a regiment specialising in intelligence work.
"Their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device during an intelligence mission," the French presidency said of Saturday's incident.