The large number of dead civilians is a dramatic increase from the data reported earlier on Monday when about 20 people were reported to have lost their lives.

Mali's government accuses jihadists of being behind the attacks.

Since 2012, Mali has been fighting an uprising of groups linked to jihadist terrorist groups.

The country has been ruled by a military junta since August 2020.

Following the attacks, a UN soldier from Guinea is also reported to have been killed by a mine near the town of Kidal.

According to a source to AFP, the soldier belonged to the Guinean group in Minusma and died according to information from his injuries at the hospital in Kidal.

The UN has around 13,000 soldiers in Mali through the operation Minusma, among them Swedes.

The peacekeeping force is one of the largest in the UN and is considered one of the most dangerous.

To date, 175 UN soldiers have been killed in attacks since Minsuma was formed in 2013.