Tinzaouaten (var. Tinzawatene and Tin-Zaouatene; Arabic: تين ظواتين) is a Saharan rural commune in the far northeast of Mali on the Algerian border.
Tinzaouaten
تين ظواتين ⵜⵉⵏⵣⴰⵡⴰⵜⴰⵏ | |
|---|---|
Commune and village | |
  Tinzaouaten Location in Mali | |
| Coordinates: 19°56′55″N 2°58′04″E / 19.94861°N 2.96778°E | |
| Country |  Mali |
| Region | Kidal Region |
| Cercle | Abeïbara Cercle |
| Control | CSP-DPA |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8,750 km2 (3,380 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 618 m (2,028 ft) |
| Population (2009 census)[2] | |
| • Total | 2,300 |
| • Density | 0.26/km2 (0.68/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
Geography
editThe commune is in the Abeïbara Cercle of the Kidal Region. It included a stop on a trans-Saharan trade route and a military post on the frontier under the French colonial regime. In 2009 the 8,000 square kilometer commune had a population of 2,300, most of whom are nomadic Tuareg.[1] The Algerian settlement of Tin Zaoutine is on the Algerian side of the border.[3]
Recent history
editIn 2019, Tinzaouaten was the headquarters of the Al-Qaeda-associated terrorist group Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin.[4]
On July 25, 2024, Tuareg rebels of CSP-DPA ambushed a convoy of FAMA and Russian Wagner mercenaries in Tinzaouaten, beginning a 2-day battle. Over the course of the battle a sandstorm formed, forcing both sides to a temporary pause in fighting until July 26.[5] The battle ended on July 27 resulting in the loss of several FAMA armored vehicles, a FAMA helicopter and the claimed deaths of 10 FAMA soldiers, up to 25-80+ Wagner Group mercenaries and 20 CSP-DPA soldiers.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b Plan de Sécurité Alimentaire Commune Rurale Tinzawatene 2007-2011 (PDF) (in French), Commissariat à la Sécurité Alimentaire, République du Mali, USAID-Mali, 2007, archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-09-18, retrieved 2012-05-02.
- ^ Resultats Provisoires RGPH 2009 (Région de Kidal) (PDF) (in French), République de Mali: Institut National de la Statistique, archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-07-27, retrieved 2012-05-02.
- ^ fr:Tinzaouten
- ^ Pellerin, Mathieu (November 2019). "Armed violence in the Sahara" (PDF). IFRI. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-05-23. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
- ^ Bridger, Bianca (2024-07-25). "Tuareg rebels ambush Malian and Russian forces near the Algerian border". Atlas News. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
- ^ "Mali rebels say they killed and injured dozens of soldiers, Wagner mercenaries in fighting". Reuters. Bamako. 2024-07-27. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
External links
edit- Le CARI (Centre d'Actions et de Réalisations Internationales), PAADAP Programme Agroecologique d'Appui au Developpement Agricole et Pastoral commune de Tin Zaouaten Adrar Des Iforas, Republique du Mali.
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