The French government announced on Thursday that a French soldier had been killed in Mali.

Iran Press/Africa: The French government says the French soldier was killed in clashes with armed insurgents.

According to Reuters, Emmanuel Macron's office said: "This soldier ... was killed in fighting against armed terrorist groups, when an improvised explosive device was triggered next to his armoured vehicle," the presidency aid in a statement.

France has more than 5,000 troops in the West African Sahel region as part of international efforts to fight Islamist militants in the area.

Various regions in Mali have witnessed bloody violence in recent months.

Mali has been plagued by coups and insecurity since 2012, followed by the rise of terrorist groups.

UN troops in Mali and MINUSMA and the French military have been in Mali since mid-2013, but they have not done much to stabilize the country and terrorist threats remain in Mali.

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