View source for Kidal

{{Other uses|Kidal (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|name          = Kidal
|other_name             =
|native_name            =  ⴾⴸⵍ
|nickname               =
|settlement_type        = [[Communes of Mali|Commune]] and [[town]]
|motto                  =
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
|image_skyline          =Maison artisans.JPG
|imagesize              =300px
|image_caption          =A craftsmen's house
|image_flag             =
|flag_size              =
|image_seal             =
|seal_size              =
|image_shield           =
|shield_size            =
|image_blank_emblem     =
|blank_emblem_type      =
|blank_emblem_size      =
|image_map              =
|mapsize                =
|map_caption            =
|image_map1             =
|mapsize1               =
|map_caption1           =
|image_dot_map          =
|dot_mapsize            =
|dot_map_caption        =
|dot_x =  |dot_y =
|pushpin_map            = Mali
|pushpin_label_position =bottom
|pushpin_map_caption    =Location in Mali
|pushpin_mapsize        = 
|pushpin_relief         = yes
<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name       = [[Mali]]
|subdivision_type1      = [[Regions of Mali|Region]]
|subdivision_name1      = [[Kidal Region]]
|subdivision_type2      = [[Cercles of Mali|Cercle]] (district):
|subdivision_name2      = [[Kidal Cercle]]
<!-- Politics ----------------->
|government_footnotes   =
|government_type        =
|leader_title           =
|leader_name            =
|leader_title1          =  <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
|leader_name1           =
|established_title      =  <!-- Settled -->
|established_date       =
|established_title2     =  <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
|established_date2      =
<!-- Area    --------------------->
|area_magnitude         =
|unit_pref                =<!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired-->
|area_footnotes           =
|area_total_km2           =9913
|area_land_km2            = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion-->
|area_total_sq_mi         =
|area_land_sq_mi          =
|area_urban_km2           =
|area_urban_sq_mi         =
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of               =2009
|population_footnotes           =<ref>{{citation | url=http://instat.gov.ml/documentation/kidal.pdf | publisher=République de Mali: Institut National de la Statistique | title=Resultats Provisoires RGPH 2009 (Région de Kidal) | access-date=20 March 2012 | archive-date=27 July 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727120249/http://instat.gov.ml/documentation/kidal.pdf | url-status=dead |language=fr}}</ref>
|population_note                =
|population_total               =25617
|population_density_km2         =auto
|population_density_sq_mi       =
|population_urban               =
|population_density_urban_km2   =
|population_density_urban_sq_mi =
<!-- General information  --------------->
|timezone               = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
|utc_offset             = +00:00
|timezone_DST           =
|utc_offset_DST         =
|coordinates            = {{coord|18|26|20|N|1|24|30|E|region:ML|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes    =  <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
|elevation_m            =
|elevation_ft           = 1,519
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type       =  <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... -->
|postal_code            =
|area_code              =
|blank_name             =
|blank_info             =
|blank1_name            =
|blank1_info            =
|website                =
|footnotes              =
}}
'''Kidal''' ([[Tuareg language|Tuareg Berber]]: ⴾⴸⵍ, KDL, Kidal) is a town and [[Communes of Mali|commune]] in the desert region of northern [[Mali]]. The town lies {{convert|285|km|abbr=on}} northeast of [[Gao]] and is the capital of the [[Kidal Cercle]] and the [[Kidal Region]]. The commune has an area of about {{convert|9910|km2|abbr=on}} and includes the town of Kidal and 31 other settlements.<ref>{{citation|title=Les Communes de la Région de Kidal |publisher=Ministère de l'administration territoriale et des collectivités locales, République du Mali |url=http://www.matcl.gov.ml/pdf/ComRegKidal.pdf |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309074222/http://www.matcl.gov.ml/pdf/ComRegKidal.pdf |archive-date=9 March 2012 }}.</ref>

==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 [[2012 Tuareg rebellion|Tuareg rebellion]] for the independence of [[Azawad]]. A spokesman for the [[2012 Malian coup d'état|Malian military junta]] said "To preserve the life of the people of Kidal, the military command decided not to prolong the battle".<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Mali coup: Rebels seize desert capital Kidal |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17562066 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=30 March 2012 |access-date=30 March 2012}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Tuareg rebels declare the independence of Azawad, north of Mali |url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/04/06/205763.html |publisher=[[Al Arabiya]] |date=6 April 2012|access-date=6 April 2012}}.</ref><ref>{{cite press release |author=Billal Ag Acherif |author-link=Bilal Ag Acherif |date=6 April 2012 |title=Déclaration D'Indépendance De L'Azawad |trans-title=Declaration of Independence of Azawad |url=http://www.mnlamov.net/component/content/article/169-declaration-dindependance-de-lazawad.html |language=fr |location=[[Gao]] |publisher=[[National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad]] |access-date=28 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018123246/http://www.mnlamov.net/component/content/article/169-declaration-dindependance-de-lazawad.html |archive-date=18 October 2012 }}</ref> In the course of the conflict the MNLA lost their control to Islamist militias.<ref>{{cite news |last=Morgan |first=Andy |date=23 October 2012 |title=Mali: no rhythm or reason as militants declare war on music |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/23/mali-militants-declare-war-music |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |access-date=30 January 2013}}</ref> On 30 January 2013 [[Operation Serval|French]] and [[Malian Armed Forces|Malian forces]] moved into the town to bring it back under government control.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Mali conflict: French 'enter last rebel town of Kidal' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21256781 |publisher=BBC News |date=30 January 2013 |access-date=30 January 2013}}</ref>

On 14 December 2013, a [[car bomb]]ing in Kidal killed two [[United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali|United Nations peacekeepers]].<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Mali unrest: Kidal attack kills two UN peacekeepers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25379618 |publisher=BBC News |date=14 December 2013 |access-date=15 February 2014}}</ref>

On 21 May 2014, MNLA forced government troops in Kidal to retreat after heavy fighting, capturing the military base.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Mali: Tuareg rebels 'defeat government army in Kidal' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27511448 |publisher=BBC News |date=22 May 2014 |access-date=22 May 2014}}</ref>

On 13 February 2020 [[Malian Armed Forces|Mali government forces]] were sent to Kidal for the first time in six years.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=10 February 2020 |title=Malian army begins deployment to Kidal in long-awaited display of govt control |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200210-malian-army-begins-deployment-to-kidal-in-long-awaited-display-of-govt-control |website=[[France 24]] |access-date=24 February 2025}}</ref> In late 2023, the ruling [[Military junta|junta]] carried out [[Kidal offensive|an offensive]] along with [[Wagner Group]] fighters. They managed to bring the city back under government control in the [[Battle of Kidal (2023)|Battle of Kidal]] in November 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-14 |title=Mali: l'armée prend Kidal, fief des rebelles du Cadre stratégique permanent |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20231114-mali-l-arm%C3%A9e-affirme-avoir-pris-le-contr%C3%B4le-de-kidal-fief-des-rebelles-du-cadre-strat%C3%A9gique-permanent |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=RFI |language=fr}}</ref>

==Demographics==
===Historical population===
{{historical populations|11=1998|12=11,159|13=2009|14=25,969|percentages=pagr|footnote=sources:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.instat-mali.org/contenu/rgph/rastr09_rgph.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819064921/http://www.instat-mali.org/contenu/rgph/rastr09_rgph.pdf |archive-date=19 August 2019 |title=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 |website=Mali Institut National de la Statistique |language=fr |date=December 2011}}</ref>|align=right}}
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===
{{bar box
|title=Languages in Kidal City (2009 Census)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.instat-mali.org/contenu/rgph/tdemo09_rgph.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111002517/http://www.instat-mali.org/contenu/rgph/tdemo09_rgph.pdf |archive-date=11 January 2020 |website=Mali Institut National de la Statistique |language=fr |title=4ème RECENSEMENT GENERAL DE LA POPULATION ET DE L'HABITAT DU MALI (RGPH): RESULTATS DEFINITIFS: TOME 1: SERIE DEMOGRAPHIQUE |date=November 2011}}</ref>
|titlebar=#ddd
|left1=Languages
|right1=percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|Tamasheq|darkgreen|79.13}}
{{bar percent|Songhai|purple|7.18}} {{bar percent|Bambara|pink|5.51}}
{{bar percent|Arabic|orange|3.78}}
{{bar percent|Other|red|4.4}}
}}
Kidal city is mainly [[Tamasheq language|Tamasheq]] speaking with 79.13% of the city speaking it in 2009. The second most spoken language in Kidal city is [[Songhai language|Songhai]] with 7.18% of the city speaking it. Other minority languages include [[Bambara language|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 climate|hot desert]] (BWh), with extremely hot weather most of the year.

{{Weather box
|location = Kidal (1950–2000)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = 28.0
|Feb high C = 31.1
|Mar high C = 34.8
|Apr high C = 38.8
|May high C = 41.5
|Jun high C = 41.9
|Jul high C = 39.9
|Aug high C = 38.4
|Sep high C = 39.1
|Oct high C = 38.0
|Nov high C = 33.4
|Dec high C = 28.9
|year high C = 36.2
|Jan low C = 12.5
|Feb low C = 14.8
|Mar low C = 18.7
|Apr low C = 23.0
|May low C = 27.0
|Jun low C = 28.6
|Jul low C = 27.2
|Aug low C = 26.2
|Sep low C = 26.0
|Oct low C = 23.2
|Nov low C = 18.0
|Dec low C = 13.7
|year low C = 21.6
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 0.6
|Feb rain mm = 0.1
|Mar rain mm = 0.2
|Apr rain mm = 1.0
|May rain mm = 5.3
|Jun rain mm = 11.6
|Jul rain mm = 36.8
|Aug rain mm = 45.9
|Sep rain mm = 23.1
|Oct rain mm = 3.0
|Nov rain mm = 0.2
|Dec rain mm = 0.2
|year rain mm = 128.0
|unit rain days = 0.1 mm
|Jan rain days = 0.2
|Feb rain days = 0.1
|Mar rain days = 0.2
|Apr rain days = 0.2
|May rain days = 1.0
|Jun rain days = 3.0
|Jul rain days = 6.1
|Aug rain days = 6.9
|Sep rain days = 3.9
|Oct rain days = 0.6
|Nov rain days = 0.1
|Dec rain days = 0.3
|year rain days = 22.6
|Jan sun = 274.5
|Feb sun = 267.3
|Mar sun = 286.1
|Apr sun = 283.9
|May sun = 294.0
|Jun sun = 230.8
|Jul sun = 269.8
|Aug sun = 276.9
|Sep sun = 271.6
|Oct sun = 296.4
|Nov sun = 286.6
|Dec sun = 275.5
|year sun = 3313.4
|source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]]<ref name= WMO>{{cite web  
|url = http://worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=136
|title = World Weather Information Service – Kidal
|publisher = World Meteorological Organization
|access-date = 12 October 2015}}</ref>
|source 2 = NOAA (sun 1961–1990)<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/M1/61214.TXT
|title = Kidal Climate Normals 1961–1990
|publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
|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
}}</ref>}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Kidal.jpg|Entry to the town
File:Kidal Colonial Fortress 2005.jpg|French colonial fortress at Kidal
</gallery>
==References==
{{Contains special characters|Tifinagh}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{citation | title=Plan de Sécurité Alimentaire Commune Urbaine de Kidal 2007–2011 | publisher=Commissariat à la Sécurité Alimentaire, République du Mali, USAID-Mali | year=2007 | url=http://www.aec.msu.edu/fs2/mali_fd_strtgy/plans/kidal/kidal/psa_kidal.pdf | language=fr | access-date=30 March 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826111133/http://www.aec.msu.edu/fs2/mali_fd_strtgy/plans/kidal/kidal/psa_kidal.pdf | archive-date=26 August 2012 | url-status=dead }}.
*{{citation | title=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 | publisher=République du Mali: Ministère de l'économie programme des nations unies et des finances | date=March 2002 | url=https://dnat.gouv.ml/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Schema-amenagement-developpement-cercle-Kidal-PRECAGED.pdf | language=fr }}.

{{Communes of the Kidal Region}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in Kidal Region]]
[[Category:Regional capitals in Mali]]
[[Category:Tuareg]]
[[Category:Azawad]]
[[Category:Berber populated places]]