French President Francois Hollande has arrived in Mali nearly four weeks after France launched a war against the West African country.

Hollande arrived in Mali on Saturday and was to thank French troops, AFP reported.

"I am going to Mali to express to our soldiers all our support, encouragement and pride," he said a day before his visit.

"I'm also going to ensure that African forces come and join us as quickly as possible and to tell them we need them for this international force."

Meanwhile, Amnesty International urged the French army on Friday to launch an inquiry into the deaths of five Malian civilians, including a woman and her three children, in a helicopter attack on the town of Konna on the first day of the French war on Mali.

The London-based rights group also accused the Malian army of executing about 20 civilians in the north of the country.

On January 11, France launched the war on Mali under the pretext of halting the advance of anti-government fighters in the West African country.

Four days later, France announced that it would more than triple the number of its troops in Mali from 800 to 2,500. French soldiers launched their first ground attack on January 16.