Kidal Region
Encyclopedia
Kidal is the eighth administrative region of Mali
, covering 151,430 km². Its capital is the city of Kidal.
, to the east by Niger
and to the north by Algeria
.
Kidal has a desert climate with day-time temperatures that reach as high as 45°C (113°F).
The population numbers 67,638. In addition to the equivalent of 30% of its population displaced to North Africa during the nineties of the last century, mostly Tuaregs and Songhais.
The largest cities of the region are Kidal, Tessalit
, and Aguel'hoc
.
s in 1963–1964 and in 1990–1991. The accords of Tamanresset followed on January 6, 1991, creating the Kidal Region by decree on August 8, 1991.
is held at Essouk
.
The region is peopled primarily by Tuaregs, a nomadic ethnicity of Berber
origin. Their writing is the Tifinagh
alphabet.
Though nomad
ism remains the lifestyle best adapted to the difficult environment of the region, several settlements have emerged at Kidal: Aguel'hoc
, Tessalit
, and Tinzawatène.
Kidal Region is divided into four cercles
encompassing 11 communes:
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
, covering 151,430 km². Its capital is the city of Kidal.
Geography
The region is bordered on the west by Tomboctou Region, to the south by Gao RegionGao Region
The Gao Region is located in eastern Mali. The region's capital city is Gao. Gao Region is bordered to the south and east by Niger, to the north by Kidal Region, and to the west by Tombouctou Region. Common ethnicities in the Gao Region include the Songhai, Bozo, Tuareg, Bambara, and Kounta...
, to the east by Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
and to the north by Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
.
Kidal has a desert climate with day-time temperatures that reach as high as 45°C (113°F).
The population numbers 67,638. In addition to the equivalent of 30% of its population displaced to North Africa during the nineties of the last century, mostly Tuaregs and Songhais.
The largest cities of the region are Kidal, Tessalit
Tessalit
Tessalit is a city in Mali's Kidal Region. The town is both a Commune and the capital of Tessalit Cercle . As of 1998 the commune had a total population of 2,533....
, and Aguel'hoc
Aguel'hoc
Aguelhok or Adjelhoc is a Rural Commune and village in Kidal Region of eastern Mali in the Tessalit Cercle. In the census of 2009 the commune had a population of 8,080.- Geography :...
.
Transportation and economy
The primary trades of Kidal Region include livestock breeding, craft-making, and commerce. Commercial farming has been developed in some areas. The region is extremely isolated, with no paved highways or rivers for transportation.History
The region saw Tuareg RebellionTuareg Rebellion
The Tuareg Rebellion was an uprising by various Tuareg groups in Niger and Mali with the aim of achieving autonomy or forming their own nation-state. The insurgency occurred in a period following the regional famine of the 1980s and subsequent refugee crisis, and a time of generalised political...
s in 1963–1964 and in 1990–1991. The accords of Tamanresset followed on January 6, 1991, creating the Kidal Region by decree on August 8, 1991.
Culture
Each year the Desert Music FestivalDesert Music Festival
The Festival au Désert is an annual concert in Essakane, Mali, showcasing traditional Tuareg music as well as music from around the world. The Tuareg band Tinariwen first garnered international attention with their performance at the 2001 Festival.A French language documentary entitled Le...
is held at Essouk
Essouk
Essouk is a commune and small village in the Kidal Region of Mali. The village lies 45 km northeast of Kidal in the Adrar des Ifoghas massif. The ruins of the medieval town of Tadmekka lie 2 km northeast of the present village...
.
The region is peopled primarily by Tuaregs, a nomadic ethnicity of Berber
Berber people
Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke the Berber language or varieties of it, which together form a branch...
origin. Their writing is the Tifinagh
Tifinagh
Tifinagh is a series of abjad and alphabetic scripts used by some Berber peoples, notably the Tuareg, to write their language.A modern derivate of the traditional script, known as Neo-Tifinagh, was introduced in the 20th century...
alphabet.
Though nomad
Nomad
Nomadic people , commonly known as itinerants in modern-day contexts, are communities of people who move from one place to another, rather than settling permanently in one location. There are an estimated 30-40 million nomads in the world. Many cultures have traditionally been nomadic, but...
ism remains the lifestyle best adapted to the difficult environment of the region, several settlements have emerged at Kidal: Aguel'hoc
Aguel'hoc
Aguelhok or Adjelhoc is a Rural Commune and village in Kidal Region of eastern Mali in the Tessalit Cercle. In the census of 2009 the commune had a population of 8,080.- Geography :...
, Tessalit
Tessalit
Tessalit is a city in Mali's Kidal Region. The town is both a Commune and the capital of Tessalit Cercle . As of 1998 the commune had a total population of 2,533....
, and Tinzawatène.
Administrative subdivisions
Cercles of Mali
A cercle is the second level administrative unit in Mali. Mali is divided into eight regions and one capital district . These subdivisions bear the name of their principal city. The regions are divided into 49 cercles....
encompassing 11 communes:
- Abeïbara CercleAbeïbara CercleAbeïbara Cercle is an administrative subdivision of the Kidal Region of north-eastern Mali. The capital lies at the small town of Abeïbara. The Cercle is divided into Communes, and below this, quarters/villages. As of 2009 the cercle had a population of 10,286....
- Kidal CercleKidal CercleKidal Cercle is an administrative subdivision of the Kidal Region of Mali. The administrative center is the town of Kidal. The cercle is divided into rural and urban communes, and below this, quarters/villages. In 2009 the cercle had a population of 25,617.The climate is typical Saharian with very...
- Tin-Essako CercleTin-Essako CercleTin-Essako Cercle is an administrative subdivision of the Kidal Region of Mali. The administrative center is at the village of Tin-Essako. As of 2009 the cercle had a population of 7,976 people...
- Tessalit CercleTessalit CercleTessalit Cercle is an administrative subdivision of the Kidal Region of Mali. The capital lies at the city of Tessalit. The Cercle is divided into Communes, and below this, quarters/villages. As of 2009 the cercle had a population of 16,289...