Mali : Reports, news and investigations

US defence officials say they will ask for cost of helping France fight insurgents in Sahel region of Africa to be 'reimbursed'.

French investigators into the July crash of Algiers-bound flight that left 116 dead say 'nothing tells us we can rule out or confirm terrorism'.

French air strikes targeted Islamist positions in northern Mali, west of the city of Timbuktu where an airport came under attack last month.

Malian president says remains of the plane on loan to Air Algérie, carrying more than 50 French nationals, was found in remote desert region.

Nothing has gone to plan in the two military campaigns launched last year by French President François Hollande in Mali and the Central African Republic. In-depth reports by the United Nations, the French parliament and various NGOs detail the huge and quite different problems now faced in both countries, which have resulted in the French army becoming bogged down in its war-torn former colonies. Paris has now announced a new "counter-terrorist" offensive, this time against jihadist groups in the Sahel region of Northern Africa. As Hollande prepares to visit three African countries this week to discuss the move, Mediapart's editor François Bonnet analyses how France has lost its way amid missions that were initially presented as short-term and which now promise the long haul with no exit in sight.

The member of the Foreign Legion is the ninth French serviceman to die since Paris launched anti-Islamist military campaign in January 2013.

The new operation, codenamed Barkhan, will start soon in the largely lawless Sahel in partnership with five countries from the African region.

Serge Lazarevic, who was captured two years ago by Al Qaeda's North African wing AQIM, called for help from President Hollande.

Clashes between Malian forces and Tuareg separatists prompted Paris to send reinforcements to join the 1,600 French troops already in Mali.

Defence minister says the mission of the soldiers will be to fight Islamist militias and other armed groups in north Mali, northern Niger and Chad.

The death brings total number of French soldiers killed in Mali to eight since France launched military operations in the country in January 2013.

No details of why or when Gilberto Rodrigues Leal, 62, died were given by the al-Qaeda affiliated group who kidnapped him in 2012.

Among those dead is Omar Ould Hamaha, known as 'Red Beard', a commander of armed groups who occupied northern Mali in 2012.

Concern as Islamist groups targeted by France's Operation Serval appear to be regaining footholds despite presence of 6,000 UN troops.

Website has launched a poster campaign called 'We will not be silent, O France' over French intervention in Mali and the Central Africa Republic.

Mali

France 'will have to pay US' for military aid in Africa

No 'clear cause' found for Air Algérie crash over Mali

France bombs Islamist militant positions in Mali

Wreckage of crashed Air Algérie flight 'found in northern Mali'

How France lost its way in Africa's wars

French soldier killed in Mali suicide bombing

France ends Mali offensive and redeploys troops to restive Sahel

French Sahara hostage appeals in video for negotiated release

France sends 100 extra troops to Mali

France to deploy 3,000 troops in Sahel

French soldier killed in Mali

French hostage in Mali is dead, claim Islamist captors

France says 40 Islamists killed in recent Mali operations

Jihadists return to northern Mali a year after French intervention

Militant Islamist website calls for attacks on France and Hollande