A strong explosion has rocked the city of Gao in northern Mali, amid reports of ongoing fighting between French-led troops and fighters in the African country.

The blast took place near a military checkpoint in the north of the city during the early hours of Monday.

Gao was also the target of bomb attacks on Friday and Saturday.

On Sunday, heavy clashes were reported in the center of the city near an empty police station, where the fighters had used as a base last month.

France launched its war on Mali on January 11 under the pretext of halting the advance of fighters in the country. The war has left thousands of Malians homeless.


On February 1, Amnesty International condemned “serious human rights breaches” including the killing of children in the French war in Mali.

The rights organization said there was “evidence that at least five civilians, including three children, were killed in an airstrike” carried out by French forces against local fighters.

Analysts believe behind the military campaign in Mali are the country’s untapped resources of oil, gold, and uranium.