French special forces killed a leader of Al-Qaeda’s north African branch who was suspected of playing a role in the kidnapping of hostage Serge Lazarevic, freed in December.

French special forces killed a leader of Al-Qaeda's north African branch who was suspected of playing a role in the kidnapping of hostage Serge Lazarevic, freed in December, the army said.

During an operation in the northeastern town of Kidal in Mali, "two terrorists were captured and a third, Ali Ag Wadossene, was killed. He is one of the operational leaders of AQIM (Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb) in the zone," said an army statement.

Two French soldiers were injured in the operation.

While never confirmed by France, Mali admitted in December that four prisoners were released in exchange for the freedom of Serge Lazarevic, who spent three years in the hands of Islamist militants.

Wadossene was also one of the instigators of the 2011 kidnapping of Lazarevic and fellow Frenchman Philippe Verdon who was found shot dead in 2013.

Lazarevic was the last of more than a dozen French citizens taken captive in recent years, with those held in Africa reaching a high of 15 last year.