"As part of the reorganisation of our arrangements in the north, we have begun the redeployment of our forces in the northeastern region of Kidal," a Mali military official who spoke on condition of anonymity told AFP.

A convoy left the northern city of Gao, which lies about 300 kilometres (186 miles) southwest of Kidal, early on Monday, the source added.

Another security official said the convoy was made up of 119 vehicles and was currently stopped on the road to the north of Gao.

National security chiefs made the deployment decision at a meeting late on Sunday, he added.

The north of Mali has seen a resumption of hostilities by Tuareg-dominated separatist groups and an intensification of jihadist attacks against the Malian army since the end of August.

In 2012, ethnic Tuaregs in northern Mali rose up and were joined by the Islamic extremists of the Ansar Dine group.

Swathes of the country fell to jihadists, including the three main northern centres of Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu.

The recent escalation in violence coincides with the ongoing withdrawal of the UN stabilisation force MINUSMA, which has been pushed out by the ruling junta.