Gossi | |
---|---|
Commune and small town | |
Coordinates: 15°49′36″N1°18′41″W / 15.82667°N 1.31139°W | |
Country | Mali |
Region | Tombouctou Region |
Cercle | Gourma-Rharous Cercle |
Area | |
• Total | 15,000 km2 (6,000 sq mi) |
Elevation | 279 m (915 ft) |
Population (2009 census) [1] | |
• Total | 24,521 |
• Density | 1.6/km2 (4.2/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
Gossi is a town and rural commune in the Cercle of Gourma-Rharous of the Tombouctou Region of Mali, lying northeast of Hombori and southwest of Gao. The town is just to the west of the main RN15 highway that links Mopti with Gao. It is on a seasonal lake, Mare de Gossi, and is surrounded by nature reserves in which a large herd of elephants live. The town is the site of a large cattle market. The commune contains around 31 villages and in the 2009 census, it had a population of 24,521. Around 90% of the population are nomadic pastoralists but there are permanent settlements around Lake Gossi, Lake Ebanguemalène and Lake Agoufou. [2] [3]
The French Military ceded its control of a base in Gossi to the Malian Army in April 2022. [4]
In May of 2013 the bodies of two Tuareg men were found just outside of Gossi. Just hours earlier they were stripped naked and trampled on by soldiers, only to be released at the request of a soldier who was a relative. The Minister of Defence attributed the killings to the Ganda Koy- a militia that works with the support of local authorities. [5]
On 24 July 2014, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft flying Air Algérie Flight 5017 crashed southeast of Gossi with 116 people on board. The flight had left Ouagadougou and was headed to Algiers. Initial reports suggested a sandstorm might have been to blame. [6] Gossi was also the site of the capture of Mimi Ould Baba Ould El Mokhtar, believed to be responsible for a terrorist attack in Grand-Bassam, by French military forces. [7]
In March 2022, the French military released video evidence of Russian mercenaries burying about a dozen bodies of Malians near the Gossi military base. [8]
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.
Koulikoro is a town and urban commune in Mali. The capital of the Koulikoro Region, Koulikoro is located on banks of the Niger River, 59 kilometres (37 mi) downstream from Mali's capital Bamako.
Bamba is a small town and rural commune in the Bourem Cercle of the Gao Region of Mali. The town is located on the left (north) bank of the Niger River, 190 km east of Timbuktu and 230 km northwest of the town of Gao. In the 2009 census the commune had a population of 28,524.
Essakane is a rural commune and village of the Cercle of Goundam in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. The commune includes around 16 small settlements. The small village of Essakane is around 70 kilometers west of the town of Timbuktu. The commune includes Lake Faguibine and two depressions, Lake Kamango and Lake Gouber, which fill with water in years when the annual flood of the Niger River is particularly extensive.
Goundam Cercle is a second-level administrative subdivision (cercle) of the Tombouctou Region in northern Mali. Its administrative center is the town of Goundam, although the most populous commune is Tonka. In the 2009 census, the cercle had a population of 150,150.
Ménaka is a town and urban commune in Ménaka Cercle and Ménaka Region in eastern Mali. It is the seat and the largest town in the cercle and region. The town is set amidst the rocky outcrops of the Ader Douchi hills, and is served by Ménaka Airport.
Diré Cercle is an administrative subdivision of the Tombouctou Region of Mali. The administrative center (chef-lieu) is the town of Diré.
Gourma-Rharous Cercle is an administrative subdivision of the Tombouctou Region of Mali. The administrative center is the town of Gourma-Rharous.
Gao Cercle is an administrative subdivision of the Gao Region of north-eastern Mali. The administrative center (chef-lieu) is the town of Gao.
Anefif or Anéfis is a Saharan village and commune in the Cercle of Kidal in the Kidal Region of north-eastern Mali.
Konna is a town and rural commune in the Cercle of Mopti in the Mopti Region of Mali. The town lies 60 km northeast of Mopti on the eastern edge of the flood plain of the Niger River. The main RN16 highway linking Sévaré and Gao branches to the east just to the south of the town. The commune has an area of approximately 838 km2 and contains the town and 24 of the surrounding villages. In the 2009 census, it had a population of 36,767.
Bintagoungou is a rural commune and village of the Cercle of Goudam in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. The village lies at the south east corner of Lake Faguibine near the channel that connects Lake Faguibine to Lake Takara. The commune includes all of Lake Takara and a small section at the eastern end of Lake Faguibine.
Adarmalane also D'adarmalane is a rural commune of the Cercle of Goudam in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. It lies to the south of Lake Faguibine.
Tonka is a town and commune of the Cercle of Goudam in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. The commune includes around 22 settlements. The commune lies to the north of the Niger River and includes Lake Oro, a seasonal lake that fills with water during the annual flood of the Niger River.
Koumaïra is a rural commune and village of the Cercle of Niafunké in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. The village is on the south bank of the Bara-Issa, a branch of the Niger River that flows when the river is in flood. It lies 21 km south east of the town of Niafunké and 65 km north east of Lake Debo. The commune contains around 36 small settlements.
Léré is a small town and rural commune of the Cercle of Niafunké in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. The commune covers an area of approximately 1,342 square kilometers and contains the town and 18 villages. In the 2009 census the commune had a population of 16,072.
Soumpi is a village and commune of the Cercle of Niafunké in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. Lac Soumpi is a lake of note here, as is the archaeological site of Tissalaten.
Soboundou is a commune of the Cercle of Niafunké in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. The administrative center (chef-lieu) is the town of Niafunké.
Issa Bery is a commune of the Cercle of Goundam in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. The administrative center (chef-lieu) is the village of Toucabangou which is on the south shore of Lake Faguibine. The commune includes areas of land both to the south and to the north of the lake.
Télé is a rural commune of the Cercle of Goundam in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. The administrative center (chef-lieu) is the village of Hangabéra. The village lies to the east of Lake Télé and 20 km north of the small town of Goundam. Lake Télé is connected to the Niger River by a system of channels. When the river floods in September water flows into the southern end of the lake. Lake Télé is connected at its northern end to Lake Takara. The river water flows out of Lake Takara, across a rocky sill at Kamaïna and eventually reaches Lake Faguibine.
Mimi Ould Baba Ould El Mokhtar -- also known as Mimi Ould Baba Ould Cheikh – was arrested near the town of Gossi in northern Mali earlier this month, Ivorian security sources told FRANCE 24's sister radio station, RFI, on Thursday.