( CNN ) -- French President Francois Hollande visited the Malian town of Timbuktu on Saturday , a jubilant trip days after his nation 's forces freed the fabled city from the iron grip of Islamist militants . France launched the offensive against militants in its former colony three weeks ago . The ground and air campaign has sent Islamist fighters who had seized the northern region fleeing into the vast deserts . `` We are serving a cause defined within the United Nations ' framework ... to bring the entire Malian territory under the legitimate authority of the Malian president and then the leaders who will be elected by the Malians , '' Hollande said in Timbuktu . French troops , he said , are not in Mali to venture into politics . Broken limbs , torn lives in northern Mali . `` I have enough to do with French politics , '' he said . `` So we are at the service of a mission which was defined from the call of the Malian president and within the framework of the Security Council resolutions . '' Hollande landed in Sevare accompanied by his defense and foreign ministers , CNN affiliate BFMTV reported . From there , he joined Malian interim President Dioncounda Traore for the Timbuktu visit . French-led forces liberated the historical city this week after Islamist militants took control of it last year . In Timbuktu , residents bestowed him with a camel while others danced . What 's behind instability in Mali ? The trip comes as troops from both nations make major gains in the battle against militants . French-led troops now control Timbuktu and Gao cities , along with a swath in between that was an Islamist stronghold for almost a year , the French Defense Ministry said . France sent troops at Mali 's request after radical Islamists seized the strategic town of Konna on January 10 . The town is now back under Malian control . Islamic extremists carved out a large portion of the north last year , taking advantage of a chaotic situation after a military coup . They banned music , smoking , drinking and watching sports on television , and destroyed historic tombs and shrines in the region . World leaders feared that the al Qaeda-linked militants would turn the area into a terrorist haven . Opinion : Why Hollande must show clearer leadership . But with the offensive sending the fighters scattering , residents are once again roaming the streets without fear . France has 2,150 soldiers in Mali and 1,000 more troops supporting the operation from elsewhere . Hollande 's visit comes a day after a rights group accused Malian troops of extrajudicial killings and abuses during the offensive . `` Malian government forces summarily executed at least 13 suspected Islamist supporters and forcibly disappeared five others from the Garrison town of Sevare and Konna '' in January , Human Rights Watch said . The United Nations also warned that the Tuareg and Arab civilians in Timbuktu , Kidal and Gao regions are at risk of reprisal attacks . Malian and French military officials have repeatedly called for respect of international law and human rights . Six reasons events in Mali matter .
NEW : Malian President Timbuktu visits the historical city of Timbuktu . NEW : Residents give him a camel as a gift . Mali , once overrun by militants , is now under control of Malian forces . The French -led offensive against militants in northern Timbuktu started a day .