Gao Region

Gao Region
Region

Location within Mali
Coordinates: 17°5′55″N 0°21′5″E / 17.09861°N 0.35139°E / 17.09861; 0.35139Coordinates: 17°5′55″N 0°21′5″E / 17.09861°N 0.35139°E / 17.09861; 0.35139
Country  Mali
Capital Gao
Area
 • Total 170,572 km2 (65,858 sq mi)
Population (2009 census)[1]
 • Total 544,120
 • Density 3.2/km2 (8.3/sq mi)
Time zone UTC (UTC±0)
Cercles of the Gao Region

The Gao Region is located in northeastern Mali. The capital city is Gao. The region is bordered to the north by Kidal Region, to the west by Tombouctou Region, and to the east and most of the south by Niger, with a very small portion of the southern border shared with Burkina Faso. Common ethnicities in the Gao Region include the Songhai, Bozo, Tuareg, Bambara, and Kounta. The towns include Gao, Bourem, and Bamba.

The Gao Region is part of Azawad, the northern part of Mali that was separated and declared independent by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) during the Tuareg rebellion of 2012. After the 1st Battle of Gao, the MNLA lost their control of the territory to Islamist militias. Several other battles have taken place in the region during the war, particularly in the city of Gao itself.

Administrative subdivisions

For administrative purposes, the Gao Region is divided into four cercles:[2]

Cercle name Area (km2) Population
Census 1998 		Population
Census 2009
Ansongo23,61482,398132,205
Bourem43,00080,667115,958
Gao31,250143,300239,853
Ménaka73,664 35,17756,104

History

Gao Region formerly comprised the entire eastern portion of the country, east of Tombouctou Region. However, in 1991 the northern half of Gao Region was separated off to become the new Kidal Region.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Resultats Provisoires RGPH 2009 (Région de Gao) (PDF), République de Mali: Institut National de la Statistique
  2. ↑ Communes de la Région de Gao (PDF) (in French), Ministère de l'administration territoriale et des collectivités locales, République du Mali.
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