Kidal

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". 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. In the course of the conflict the MNLA lost their control to Islamist militias. On 30 January 2013 French and Malian forces moved into the town to bring it back under government control.

On 14 December 2013, a car bombing in Kidal killed two United Nations peacekeepers.

On 21 May 2014, MNLA forced government troops in Kidal to retreat after heavy fighting, capturing the military base.

On 13 February 2020 Mali government forces were sent to Kidal for the first time in six years. 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.

Demographics

Historical population

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.

|access-date = 12 October 2015}} |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201101011710/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/M1/61214.TXT |archive-date = 2020-11-01 |url-status = dead |access-date = 12 October 2015

Gallery

File:Kidal.jpg|Entry to the town File:Kidal Colonial Fortress 2005.jpg|French colonial fortress at Kidal

References

References

1. "Resultats Provisoires RGPH 2009 (Région de Kidal)". République de Mali: Institut National de la Statistique.
3. "Les Communes de la Région de Kidal". Ministère de l'administration territoriale et des collectivités locales, République du Mali.
4. . (30 March 2012). ["Mali coup: Rebels seize desert capital Kidal"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17562066). *[[BBC News]]*.
5. . (6 April 2012). ["Tuareg rebels declare the independence of Azawad, north of Mali"](http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/04/06/205763.html). *[[Al Arabiya]]*.
6. Billal Ag Acherif. (6 April 2012). "Déclaration D'Indépendance De L'Azawad". [[National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad]].
7. Morgan, Andy. (23 October 2012). "Mali: no rhythm or reason as militants declare war on music". [[The Guardian]].
8. . (30 January 2013). ["Mali conflict: French 'enter last rebel town of Kidal'"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21256781). *BBC News*.
9. . (14 December 2013). ["Mali unrest: Kidal attack kills two UN peacekeepers"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25379618). *BBC News*.
10. . (22 May 2014). ["Mali: Tuareg rebels 'defeat government army in Kidal'"](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27511448). *BBC News*.
11. . (10 February 2020). ["Malian army begins deployment to Kidal in long-awaited display of govt control"](https://www.france24.com/en/20200210-malian-army-begins-deployment-to-kidal-in-long-awaited-display-of-govt-control).
12. (2023-11-14). "Mali: l'armée prend Kidal, fief des rebelles du Cadre stratégique permanent".
13. (December 2011). "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".
14. (November 2011). "4ème RECENSEMENT GENERAL DE LA POPULATION ET DE L'HABITAT DU MALI (RGPH): RESULTATS DEFINITIFS: TOME 1: SERIE DEMOGRAPHIQUE".