Six soldiers died and 11 enemy fighters were killed, according to a statement.

There has also been an attack in neighbouring Burkina Faso.

These four jihadist attacks show just how vulnerable the military forces are in the Sahel region.

As suicide bombers were driving cars packed with explosives into army bases in Mali's Mopti region, another jihadist group was killing soldiers and civilians across the border in the north of Burkina Faso.

In both countries soldiers seized power after accusing the elected governments of failing to deal with the jihadist threat.

The man now in charge of Burkina Faso - Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba - recently announced the setting up of local committees that are to try holding talks with the Islamist militants.