The Aviation Week "shot down" story is not generally echoed in the French media. In fact there are no pictures of a damaged/crashed Gazelle, and one source (link below) specifically details that M. Boiteux was killed when on the ground by shrapnel while his helicopter was being re-armed.
Certainly Gazelles from French special forces are involved in the conflict, and M.Boiteux has been based in Mali since late October.
I am happy to be proven wrong, but the way I currently read this, we could be jumping to the wrong conclusions. The general media loves sensationalism, of course, because it sells copies.
Actualité | Un pilote comtois tué au Mali dans l'opération commando - Le Bien Public