According to the French president is two malian officers have been released during the operation in central Mali.

33 "terrorists" were on Saturday killed when French forces carried out an operation in central Mali.

It informs the French president, Emmanuel Macron, who is currently on visit in côte d'ivoire.

In the morning have our soldiers and Barkhane forces have been able to neutralize the 33 terrorists, says Macron, in a speech on Saturday afternoon.

Macron informs at the same time, that two malian officers, who have been taken hostage by jihadists, have been released.

the Operation was carried out close to the border of Mauritania - about 150 kilometers from the city of Mopti.

Emmanuel Macron to celebrate christmas in côte d'ivoire, together with the posted French forces.

During a speech on Friday, he said that he would strengthen the fight against islamist militants in the african Sahel region.

Thousands of civilians and soldiers have been killed during violent conflicts in the great Sahel region. The violence started in Mali in 2012 and has spread to Burkina Faso and Niger.

the Attacks continue, even if France has sent 4500 soldiers to the region to help local forces.

In the last month lost 13 soldiers life when a helicopter crashed in northern Mali.

Helikopterstyrtet happened during a hunt for jihadists in the area.

It has been a tradition of Emmanuel Macron to visit the French troops in Africa over christmas.

In 2017, he spent christmas in Niger, and in 2018, he visited Chad.

the President of the republic, during his stay in côte d'ivoire visit The International Antiterrorakademi in Abidjan. It was opened in October 2018 and is a project that both côte d'ivoire and France are behind.

Emmanuel Macron has scheduled a summit 13. January with leaders from the five countries, there is a part of the Sahel region. The case of Chad, Niger, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Mali.

/ritzau/AFP