Mali's Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga landed in the restive town of Kidal on Friday, representing the first such visit since 2014 to an area that remains in the hands of former rebels. Five French soldiers were wounded in Kidal on Thursday in an attack that France's defence minister said was likely linked to Maiga's visit.
The prime minister touched down at 10:00 am (1000 GMT) at a UN base after a day-long delay due to bad weather, where he was greeted by the head of the world body's mission in the country, Mahamat Saleh Annadif. Appointed in December, Maiga was charged with bolstering security as jihadists mount near-weekly attacks on security forces, raising safety fears ahead of the presidential election in July.
Around 4,000 French troops are deployed there as part of Operation Barkhane alongside the UN's 12,000-strong MINUSMA peacekeeping operation in Mali.
On Thursday, he visited Tessalit, northeastern Mali, to meet soldiers and local officials, accompanied by an entourage of eight ministers.
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