PARIS, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- A French soldier was killed in Mali after his armored vehicle hit an improvised explosive device, President Emmanuel Macron's office said Saturday in a statement.
Corporal Ronan Pointeau, of the 1st Spahis Regiment of Valencia, was killed "during the achievement of his mission ... following the detonation of an improvised explosive device as his armored vehicle drove by," the statement said.
Macron paid tribute to the soldier's sacrifice and expressed his "support and full confidence" in French soldiers and their allies' fight against terrorism.
Macron also said that his determination "remains intact to bring peace to the Sahel (region)."
In January 2013, France launched a military offensive in its former colony to help dispel rebels who had threatened to take over Bamako, the capital of Mali.
Mali is one of more than 10 countries in the Sahel region, which also includes Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger and Chad.
France has deployed around 4,500 troops in West Africa's Sahel region to combat extremist insurgents.
