By RFIPosted on 02-11-2019Modified on 02-11-2019 at 19:45

A French soldier was killed in operation on Saturday morning near Menaka, Mali, when an improvised explosive device was fired when his armored vehicle passed.

Brigadier Ronan Pointeau was part of the 1st Spahi Regiment of Valencia. While attending a convoy escort on Saturday, his light armored vehicle was hit by an explosive device explosion in the Menaka region of northeastern Mali. The 24-year-old soldier died as a result of the explosion, the French army said in a statement.

French President Emmanuel Macron praised the soldier's " sacrifice " and expressed " his thoughts to his comrades engaged in operations in the Sahel ", "as well as to their brothers-in-arms in the Sahelian armies, who are paying a heavy price in the fight against terrorism ".

On Friday, 49 Malian soldiers were killed in Indelimane , near Menaka, during a "terrorist attack" attributed to the jihadists. This attack is one of the most serious suffered by the Malian army.

" In a degraded security context, the death of Brigadier Ronan Pointeau shows us that the fight against the terrorist groups that are raging in the Sahel is not over and our determination to pursue it is complete ", writes the French Minister of the Armed Forces in a statement . Florence Parly announced that she would be going " very soon to Mali, in order to talk to the Malian authorities ".

Deep emotion at the announcement of the death in operations of Brigadier Ronan POINTEAU. Thought moved to his family and loved ones, as well as his comrades @ @ 1st Spahis. All of England welcomes the commitment of our brother-in-arms. #ProductsOurSoldiers pic.twitter.com/Crm9s5TlJy

Chief of Staff of the Army (@CEMAT_EN) November 2, 2019

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