Kidal Region

Kidal Region
Region
Interactive map of Kidal Region
Coordinates: 19°58′24″N 0°44′49″E / 19.97333°N 0.74694°E / 19.97333; 0.74694
CountryMali
CapitalKidal
Government
 • GovernorEl Hadj Ag Gamou
Area
 • Total
151,450 km2 (58,480 sq mi)
Population
 (2023)
 • Total
83,192
 • Density0.54930/km2 (1.4227/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC±0 (UTC)
ISO 3166 codeML-8
HDI (2017)0.386
low · 5th

Kidal Region (Bambara: ߞߌߘߊߟ ߘߌߣߋߖߊ tr. Kidal Dineja) the eighth administrative region of Mali, covering 151,450 square kilometres or 58,480 square miles. This area was formerly part of Gao Region, but was created as a separate region in 1991. It is located in the north of the country. It was under the control of different armed movements such as the Ansar Dine and MNLA until January 2013, when French forces liberated the region. The Region's administrative capital is the town of Kidal.

Geography

The region is bordered on the west by Taoudénit Region, to the south by Gao Region and Ménaka Region, 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).

In 2009 the region had a population of 67,638. In addition 30% of its population, mostly Tuareg and Songhai were displaced to North Africa during the 1990s.

The largest towns of the region are Kidal, Tessalit, and Aguel'hoc.

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 Rebellions 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.

By the end of 2011, another group of Tuareg rebels, the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, were active in the region. The Movement declared Azawad to be an independent republic in April 2012, with the Kidal region as part of the new (but unrecognised) state.

Culture

The region is peopled primarily by Tuaregs, a nomadic ethnicity of Berber origin. Their writing is the Tifinagh alphabet.

Though nomadism remains the lifestyle best adapted to the difficult environment of the region, several settlements have emerged at Kidal: Aguel'hoc, Tessalit, and Tinzawatène.

Demographics

The Ménaka Region is the least populated region in Mali, with a population of 83,192 in 2022.

Ethnicity

Ethnicity in Kidal (2022)
  1. Tuareg (86.2%)
  2. Arab (5.88%)
  3. Bambara (5.54%)
  4. Songhai (1.38%)
  5. Other (1.02%)
Mother tongues in Kidal region (2022)
  1. Tuareg (82.9%)
  2. Arabic (6.83%)
  3. Bambara (6.45%)
  4. Maraka / Soninké (1.52%)
  5. Songhai (1.40%)
  6. Other Malian (0.75%)
  7. Other African (0.01%)
  8. Other foreign (0.11%)

Kidal is one of three Malian regions (the others being Menaka and Tombouctou) where the Tuareg constitute the single largest ethnic group. In 2022, Tuareg people accounted for over 86% of the regional population. Minorities in Kidal include the Songhai, Arabs (Maure), Bambara, Senufo (mostly Minyanka), and Somono.

Religion

The 2022 census found that 99.64% of the population in Kidal was Muslim, 0.29% was Christian, 0.01 were adherents of traditional faiths, and 0.04% practised other religions. Islam is the dominant religion among the Tuareg, who are almost entirely Muslim.

Administrative subdivisions

Cercles of the Kidal Region

As of 2023, the Kidal Region is divided into five cercles encompassing 11 communes: A fifth cercle, Achibogo, was added sometime after 2016. No map is available depicting the new cercle divisions.

Cercle nameArea (km2)Population
Census 1998		Population
Census 2009
Kidal21,35316,49533,087
Tessalit39,00012,36216,289
Abeïbara23,7507,36310,286
Tin-Essako2,5547,976

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Mali: Regions, Cities & Urban Localities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information". Citypopulation.de. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  2. ↑ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". Global Data Lab. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  3. ↑ "Mali conflict: 'Many die' in Ifoghas mountain battle". BBC News. February 23, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Resultats Provisoires RGPH 2009 (Région de Kidal)" (PDF). République de Mali: Institut National de la Statistique. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-07-27. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
  5. ↑ BBC Staff (March 30, 2012). "Mali coup: Rebels seize desert capital Kidal". BBC News. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  6. ↑ Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT) (December 2024). "CINQUIEME RECENSEMENT GENERAL DE LA POPULATION ET DE L'HABITAT (RGPH5)" (PDF). Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT) (December 2024). "RAPPORT D'ANALYSE DES DONNEES DU RGPH5 THÈME : CARACTERISTIQUES CULTURELLES DE LA POPULATION". Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  8. ↑ Communes de la Région de Kidal (PDF) (in French), Ministère de l'administration territoriale et des collectivités locales, République du Mali, archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-09.