5 Malian soldiers killed by roadside bomb

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Five Malian soldiers were killed on Monday when a roadside bomb struck a military convoy, an official announced.

The soldiers were passing through the region of Alatona near the border with Mauritania when the incident occurred, government spokesman Yaya Sangare said on Twitter.

"Preliminary report showed five soldiers dead -- four vehicles destroyed. Reinforcements are already on site to neutralize the enemies," he said.

Mali has been facing a deadly insurgency by militants aligned with various groups, including Al-Qaeda, among others.

Last November, 13 French soldiers were killed when two helicopters collided in northern Mali.

The so-called "Islamic State" in West Africa Province had claimed responsibility for the incident, saying the helicopters collided as one was retreating while under fire from the group.

Also in November, some 50 Malian soldiers were killed in an attack on a military post in northeast Mali.