The soldiers were travelling in their armored vehicle near Tessalit in northern Mali on Tuesday when a mine exploded, the Elysee said.
One of the three, from the 511th transport regiment, was announced dead on Tuesday. The other two were seriously injured and transported to a French medical field hospital in Gao. They both died at the hospital, the Defence Ministry said.
The soldiers were part of France’s ongoing Operation Barkhane, a counter-insurgency effort aimed at supporting troops from five Sahel-region countries in the fight against Islamist terrorism.
Seven French soldiers have died since the start of the operation in August 2014.
In a statement, President Francois Hollande said he “addresses his condolences to the families and loved ones, and assures them of the full solidarity of the nation in these painful circumstances.”
Source; GNA
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