The Gao Region (Bambara: ߜߊߏ ߘߌߣߋߖߊ tr. Gao Dineja) is a region in northeastern Mali. The capital city is Gao.

Gao Region
Location within Mali
Location within Mali
Coordinates: 17°5′55″N 0°21′5″E / 17.09861°N 0.35139°E / 17.09861; 0.35139
Country Mali
CapitalGao
Area
 • Total89,532 km2 (34,568 sq mi)
Population
 (2009 census)[1]
 • Total544,120
 • Density6.1/km2 (16/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC±0 (UTC)
HDI (2017)0.386[2]
low · 5th
Cercles of the Gao Region prior to the 2012 reorganization of Mali's regions

Geography edit

The region is bordered to the north by Kidal Region, to the west by Tombouctou Region and Taoudénit Region, to the east by the Ménaka Region, and most of the south by Niger (Tahoua Region and Tillabéri Region), sharing a portion of the southern border with Burkina Faso (Sahel Region).

Demographics edit

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 Mali, the northern part 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 control to Islamist militias. Several other battles took place during the war, particularly in Gao.

Administrative subdivisions edit

For administrative purposes, the Gao Region is divided into three cercles:[3]

Cercle name Area (km2) Population
Census 1998
Population
Census 2009
Ansongo 23,614 82,398 132,205
Bourem 43,000 80,667 115,958
Gao 31,250 143,300 239,853

History edit

Gao Region formerly comprised the entire eastern portion of the country, east of Tombouctou Region. In 1991 the northern half of Gao Region became Kidal Region.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Resultats Provisoires RGPH 2009 (Région de Gao) (PDF), République de Mali: Institut National de la Statistique, archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-22
  2. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  3. ^ Communes de la Région de Gao (PDF) (in French), Ministère de l'administration territoriale et des collectivités locales, République du Mali, archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-16.

External links edit