French military forces in Mali have killed Ali Maychou, the head of a West African Islamic extremist group, Deutsche Welle has reported referring to France's defense ministry said on Tuesday.

French Defense Minister Florence Parly said via Twitter that Maychou, the No. 2 in command of the of Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) extremist group, was killed on October 9.

"Ali Maychou, a religious leader, recruiter and mastermind of several attacks, incited hate," Parly wrote.

Maychou was a former radical Imam who was added to international sanctions list by the United Nations for his links to the so-called "Islamic State" (IS) militant group and al-Qaeda. JNIM is responsible for attacks on Malian and French troops as well as UN peacekeepers.