Kidal
In today's world, Kidal is a topic that has become increasingly relevant. Both on a personal and professional level, Kidal has captured the attention of a large number of individuals and has generated debate in different sectors. Over time, opinions and perspectives on Kidal have evolved, resulting in a growing interest in fully understanding its importance and impact on society. In this article, we will explore in detail the various facets of Kidal, analyzing its impact in different contexts and offering a comprehensive vision that allows us to fully understand its relevance in today's world.
Kidal
ⴾⴸⵍ | |
|---|---|
Commune and town | |
 A craftsmen's house | |
  Kidal Location in Mali | |
| Coordinates: 18°26′20″N 1°24′30″E / 18.43889°N 1.40833°E | |
| Country | Mali |
| Region | Kidal Region |
| Cercle (district): | Kidal Cercle |
| Area | |
• Total | 9,913 km2 (3,827 sq mi) |
| Population (2009)[1] | |
• Total | 25,617 |
| • Density | 2.6/km2 (6.7/sq mi) |
Kidal (Tuareg Berber: ⴾⴸⵍ, KDL, Kidal) is a town and commune in the desert region of northern Mali. The town lies 285 km (177 mi) northeast of Gao and is the capital of the Kidal Cercle and the Kidal Region. The commune has an area of about 9,910 km2 (3,830 sq mi) and includes the town of Kidal and 31 other settlements.[2]
History
On 30 March 2012, Kidal and its military base were captured by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad as part of the Tuareg rebellion for the independence of Azawad. A spokesman for the Malian military junta said "To preserve the life of the people of Kidal, the military command decided not to prolong the battle".[3] Gao and Timbuktu were captured within the next 48 hours, and on 6 April, the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad declared the independence of Azawad from Mali.[4][5] In the course of the conflict the MNLA lost their control to Islamist militias.[6] On 30 January 2013 French and Malian forces moved into the town to bring it back under government control.[7]
On 14 December 2013, a car bombing in Kidal killed two United Nations peacekeepers.[8]
On 21 May 2014, MNLA forced government troops in Kidal to retreat after heavy fighting, capturing the military base.[9]
On 13 February 2020 Mali government forces were sent to Kidal for the first time in six years.[10] In late 2023, the ruling junta carried out an offensive along with Wagner Group fighters. They managed to bring the city back under government control in the Battle of Kidal in November 2023.[11]
Demographics
Historical population
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 11,159 | — |
| 2009 | 25,969 | +7.98% |
| sources:[12] | ||
The population of the city of Kidal has grown from 11,159 in 1998 to 25,969 in 2009, raising its percentage in the Kidal Region from 26.3% to 38.3%.
Languages
Kidal city is mainly Tamasheq speaking with 79.13% of the city speaking it in 2009. The second most spoken language in Kidal city is Songhai with 7.18% of the city speaking it. Other minority languages include Bambara spoken by 5.51% of the city, Arabic spoken by 3.78% of the city, and other minority languages spoken by 4.4%.
Notable inhabitants
- Ahmed Ag Kaedy (born 1979) - musician
- Nina Wallet Intalou (born 1963) - businesswoman and politician
Climate
Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies it climate as hot desert (BWh), with extremely hot weather most of the year.
| Climate data for Kidal (1950–2000) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 28.0 (82.4) |
31.1 (88.0) |
34.8 (94.6) |
38.8 (101.8) |
41.5 (106.7) |
41.9 (107.4) |
39.9 (103.8) |
38.4 (101.1) |
39.1 (102.4) |
38.0 (100.4) |
33.4 (92.1) |
28.9 (84.0) |
36.2 (97.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 12.5 (54.5) |
14.8 (58.6) |
18.7 (65.7) |
23.0 (73.4) |
27.0 (80.6) |
28.6 (83.5) |
27.2 (81.0) |
26.2 (79.2) |
26.0 (78.8) |
23.2 (73.8) |
18.0 (64.4) |
13.7 (56.7) |
21.6 (70.9) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.6 (0.02) |
0.1 (0.00) |
0.2 (0.01) |
1.0 (0.04) |
5.3 (0.21) |
11.6 (0.46) |
36.8 (1.45) |
45.9 (1.81) |
23.1 (0.91) |
3.0 (0.12) |
0.2 (0.01) |
0.2 (0.01) |
128.0 (5.04) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 6.1 | 6.9 | 3.9 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 22.6 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 274.5 | 267.3 | 286.1 | 283.9 | 294.0 | 230.8 | 269.8 | 276.9 | 271.6 | 296.4 | 286.6 | 275.5 | 3,313.4 |
| Source 1: World Meteorological Organization[14] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: NOAA (sun 1961–1990)[15] | |||||||||||||
Gallery
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Entry to the town -
French colonial fortress at Kidal
References
- ^ Resultats Provisoires RGPH 2009 (Région de Kidal) (PDF) (in French), République de Mali: Institut National de la Statistique, archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2012, retrieved 20 March 2012
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link) - ^ Les 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 9 March 2012.
- ^ "Mali coup: Rebels seize desert capital Kidal". BBC News. 30 March 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
- ^ "Tuareg rebels declare the independence of Azawad, north of Mali". Al Arabiya. 6 April 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2012..
- ^ Billal Ag Acherif (6 April 2012). "Déclaration D'Indépendance De L'Azawad" [Declaration of Independence of Azawad] (Press release) (in French). Gao: National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
- ^ Morgan, Andy (23 October 2012). "Mali: no rhythm or reason as militants declare war on music". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- ^ "Mali conflict: French 'enter last rebel town of Kidal'". BBC News. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- ^ "Mali unrest: Kidal attack kills two UN peacekeepers". BBC News. 14 December 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
- ^ "Mali: Tuareg rebels 'defeat government army in Kidal'". BBC News. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
- ^ "Malian army begins deployment to Kidal in long-awaited display of govt control". France 24. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
- ^ "Mali: l'armée prend Kidal, fief des rebelles du Cadre stratégique permanent". RFI (in French). 14 November 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ "4ème RECENSEMENT GENERAL DE LA POPULATION ET DE L'HABITAT DU MALI (RGPH-2009): ANALYSE DES RESULTATS DEFINITIFS: THEME 2: ETAT ET STRUCTURE DE LA POPULATION" (PDF). Mali Institut National de la Statistique (in French). December 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2019.
- ^ "4ème RECENSEMENT GENERAL DE LA POPULATION ET DE L'HABITAT DU MALI (RGPH): RESULTATS DEFINITIFS: TOME 1: SERIE DEMOGRAPHIQUE" (PDF). Mali Institut National de la Statistique (in French). November 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 January 2020.
- ^ "World Weather Information Service – Kidal". World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
- ^ "Kidal Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
External links
- Plan de Sécurité Alimentaire Commune Urbaine de Kidal 2007–2011 (PDF) (in French), Commissariat à la Sécurité Alimentaire, République du Mali, USAID-Mali, 2007, archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2012, retrieved 30 March 2012.
- Programme de renforcement des capacités nationales pour une gestion stratégique du développement (PRECAGED): Schéma d'aménagement et de développement de la commune urbaine de Kidal (PDF) (in French), République du Mali: Ministère de l'économie programme des nations unies et des finances, March 2002.
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