Ouattagouna

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Ouattagouna or Ouatagouna is a small town and commune in the Cercle of Ansongo in the Gao Region of south-eastern Mali.

Ouattagouna
Commune and town
Ouattagouna is located in Mali
Ouattagouna
Ouattagouna
Location in Mali
Coordinates: 15°11′03″N 0°43′18″E / 15.18417°N 0.72167°E / 15.18417; 0.72167
Country Mali
RegionGao Region
CercleAnsongo Cercle
Government
 • MayorAmadou Harouna Maiga
Area
 • Commune and town4,093 km2 (1,580 sq mi)
Population
 (2009 census)[2]
 • Commune and town30,519
 • Metro
3,591
Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT)

Geography and climate

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Located in the extreme south of the Ansongo Cercle and the region, the commune of Ouattagouna was established by Law No. 096-059, on 4 November 1996.[1] It is bounded to the north by the communes of Boura and Tin-Hama, south by the prefecture Tillabery of Niger, to the east by the town of Tin-Hama and Ménaka and west by the municipality of Tessit. It covers an area of 4093 square kilometers.[1] A considerable amount of the commune lies in the Ansongo-Ménaka animal reserve, especially east of the main town. It is managed by 23 elected representatives including one woman, three in the cercle and one in the Regional Assembly headed by a Mayor, three assistants, a secretary general, a manager and a guard.

The relief of Ouattagouna is very rugged with a few hills located near Ankoum Migno and El Mack (Bintia in Hausa). Several rocky cliffs along the valley flanks the Niger River. The climate is Sahelian and is characterized by three distinct seasons, dry and cold from October to March; a hot season from April to May; and a rainy season from June to September.[1] The commune experiences prevailing harmattan dry winds blowing for eight to nine months followed by the monsoon which is a humid wind blowing from July to September.[1]

The average rainfall ranges from 250 to 300 mm per year and the temperature fluctuates between 10 °C and 30 °C.[1] However rainfall may fluctuate, for instance from 1997 to 2002, the total ranged from 129.5 mm in 10 days in 1997 and 429.2 mm in 1999. In 2002 it was 208.4 mm in an 18-day period against 307 mm in 23 days in 2001 and 383.3 mm in 24 days in 2004 etc.[1] The Niger River passes through the commune for about 50 kilometres. Several wadis runoff into the river including the Kamgala, Soror, Bolilam in Hausa, then that of Imminan in the Gourma.

The commune of Ouattagouna contains several small lakes, the most important being Afrag, Barguvi, Tamakazène, Soror Koutou, Tirrazir, Tikoubaradène, Tangouba, Tin Chiguéren, Tinibit, Petan Tibanguir, Gardabani, Tabakatt, Darous Bangou and others.[1] Vegetation is mainly influenced by climate and is composed primarily of savannah grassland. The land is characterised by very deep clay and sandy soils, suitable for agriculture and growing vegetables along the Niger River, and the soils can give a red-brown color in sub-arid regions.[1]

Wildlife

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The "Ansongo-Ménaka Nature Reserve", established in the years 1956–1960, takes up much of the land in the commune of Ouattagouna. The reserve was created to protect a variety of wildlife including elephants, giraffes, gazelles, panthers, lions, tigers, hyenas, oryx, ostriches, turtles, boas, porcupines, hippos, ducks, herons, geese, jackals, monkeys, hyenas, manatees, crocodiles, and lizards.[1] Also, the presence of the rich fauna has led to the construction of a tourist camp Fafa but poaching and bush fires have threatened conservation in the region.[1] The commune has a notable abundance of fish and the town has a high rate of fish production. However, common drought, flooding, and over-exploitation of fish stocks have seen catches fall sharply in quantity and quality in recent years.[1]

Villages

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The commune contains the following settlements:[3]

Village Population
(2004)
Coordinates
Bentia 2248 15°20′33″N 0°45′22″W / 15.34250°N 0.75611°W / 15.34250; -0.75611
Bangabe 2441 15°14′51″N 0°58′2″W / 15.24750°N 0.96722°W / 15.24750; -0.96722
Frag Frag 385 15°16′25″N 0°50′23″W / 15.27361°N 0.83972°W / 15.27361; -0.83972
Fafa 3403 15°19′22″N 0°44′48″W / 15.32278°N 0.74667°W / 15.32278; -0.74667
Kamouga 395 15°06′07″N 0°55′15″W / 15.10194°N 0.92083°W / 15.10194; -0.92083
Kel Arokass 631 15°11′17″N 0°54′07″W / 15.18806°N 0.90194°W / 15.18806; -0.90194
Kel Soughane 666 15°07′49″N 0°55′32″W / 15.13028°N 0.92556°W / 15.13028; -0.92556
Karou 2916 15°07′45″N 0°40′42″W / 15.12917°N 0.67833°W / 15.12917; -0.67833
Labbézanga 2580 14°58′10″N 0°42′12″W / 14.96944°N 0.70333°W / 14.96944; -0.70333
Melleguezene 60 15°24′13″N 0°45′28″W / 15.40361°N 0.75778°W / 15.40361; -0.75778
Ouattagouna 3591 15°11′03″N 0°43′18″W / 15.18417°N 0.72167°W / 15.18417; -0.72167
Peulh Ixanane 720 15°06′06″N 0°44′58″W / 15.10167°N 0.74944°W / 15.10167; -0.74944
Do Frag-Frag 704 15°12′24″N 0°50′55″W / 15.20667°N 0.84861°W / 15.20667; -0.84861
Kel Eguitte 603 15°06′48″N 1°0′40″W / 15.11333°N 1.01111°W / 15.11333; -1.01111
Kel Gueguelene 162 15°01′11″N 0°47′27″W / 15.01972°N 0.79083°W / 15.01972; -0.79083
Kel Tamadas 514 15°19′49″N 0°42′11″W / 15.33028°N 0.70306°W / 15.33028; -0.70306

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Plan de Sécurite Alimentaire Commune Rurale de Ouatagouna 2005-2009 (PDF) (in French), Commissariat à la Sécurité Alimentaire, République du Mali, USAID-Mali, 2005, archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2011, retrieved 8 February 2011  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain..
  2. ^ Resultats Provisoires RGPH 2009 (Région de Gao) (PDF) (in French), République de Mali: Institut National de la Statistique.
  3. ^ Monographie de la commune de Outtagouna (PDF) (in French), Ministère de l'Environment République du Mali, archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2011, retrieved 14 February 2009