The 1st class legionnaire Kévin Clement was "killed in action", Monday, May 4, during an operation against insurgent groups in Mali, announced the presidency of the Republic in the evening. He belonged to the first foreign cavalry regiment of Carpaigne, in the south of France.

"The President of the Republic sends his sincere condolences to his family and his brothers in arms, of the foreign legion and the army, already bereaved by the death last Friday of Brigadier Martynyouk, of the same regiment", adds the press release from the Élysée.

Kévin Clément was killed in "a clash with terrorists" in the Ménaka region, in north-eastern Mali, said the ministry of the Armed Forces.

This zone is located in the region known as the three borders, with Niger and Burkina Faso, where part of the efforts of Operation Barkhane is concentrated with the G5 Sahel countries.

The general staff of the French armies specified that "its desert tactical sub-group, engaged in an action of zonal harassment and sweeping against the armed terrorist groups, has detected several enemies".

During the confrontation, Kévin Clément was seriously wounded by a bullet and he died in Gao where he had been evacuated by helicopter. Two jihadists have been "put out of action", according to the French army, which has been operating since 2013 in Mali.

This death brings to 43 the number of soldiers of the French army killed in the Sahel since the beginning of the French intervention in 2013, with the operations Serval then Barkhane, according to a count made from figures published by the general staff .

With AFP

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