A statement from the armed forces gave no further details.

Mali has been in the grip of an Islamist insurgency in its northern Sahel regions for more than 10 years.

The military authority, which has ruled the West African country since 2020, faces accusations of carrying out a massacre of civilians at the beginning of this month.

It says those killed were jihadist fighters.

France, which was leading an international military effort against jihadists in the Sahel region, announced its withdrawal from Mali in February.

The exit notice came amid a deterioration in the relationship between France and the military junta that seized power last year.

The decision was also prompted by Mali’s decision to use fighters from the Russian company Wagner to help in the fight against jihadists.

Mali however denies the presence of any Russian mercenaries in the country.