The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA)  on Friday said nine UN peacekeepers were killed in an ambush in eastern Mali.

Report says it is the largest number of UN peacekeepers to die in a single attack in the West African nation, which is recovering from a military coup and an Islamist insurgency.

The soldiers, who are from Niger, were killed while on patrol near the town of Menaka.

Last month, four UN peacekeepers died and 15 others were injured when their mororcade drove over a landmine in northern Mali, between the towns of Kidal and Aguelhok.

No group claimed responsibility for the attacks.

MINUSMA has previously confirmed that a cell of the terrorist group, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is believed to be located in the region.