Four Malian soldiers were killed and 12 others were injured in an ambush in the restive region of central Mali, the country’s army said on Thursday.
The army blamed the attack on jihadists who ambushed a military anti-poaching patrol in Mopti.
The army added that it had deployed reinforcements to the area.
The latest attacks are a setback to the West African nation which is also dealing with the fallout from the removal of the administration of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita by the military after civilian protests. Malians were unhappy with the government’s handling of the insurgency among other issues such as corruption and the state of the economy.
Mali, particularly its central region, has been plagued by deadly ethnic and jihadist violence since 2012 when a revolt broke out leaving thousands of people dead and thousands of others displaced.
Mali’s military has suffered great losses in terms of personnel and equipment in the fight to regain the region’s peace and stability.
Earlier this month, at least five Malian soldiers were killed and five others were injured in twin attacks on a military convoy and camp in central Mali.
In January, 19 soldiers were killed and five others wounded in an attack on an army camp in the central region.
