"Dead on an operation abroad: the land forces are mourning the death of corporal Abdelatif Rafik of 14e RISLP [14th regiment of infantry and paratrooper logistical support]," the Land Forces said on Twitter.
According to the French military, Rafik was a driver of a multi-purpose logistic carrier vehicle within Operation Barkhane in Mali.
The corporal was killed while in a repair workshop during maintenance on a truck, as a tire exploded hurling him off.
Operation Barkhane is an anti-terrorist operation in Africa's Sahel region that has been ongoing since 2014. It includes not only Mali, but Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania and Niger as well.