France to pay tribute to three soldiers killed in Mali

France will next week pay a national tribute to three soldiers killed during Operation Barkhane, to combat jihadi insurgency in northern Mali.

The ceremony will be chaired by French president François Hollande.

The soldiers died after their armored car which was leading a convoy of about 60 vehicles travelling to the northern desert town of Tessalit hit a landmine.

Jihadist groups operating in the West African country of Mali have launched a spate of attacks in the north in recent days. Many of these assaults targeted forces operating there.