Douentza Cercle is an administrative subdivision of theMopti Region ofMali. The administrative center (chef-lieu) is the town ofDouentza.
During theTuareg rebellion of 2012, it was the southernmost part of the state ofAzawad, according to the April 2012MNLA's territorial claim. From June 2012, it was claimed by a series of rival Islamist and local militias.
The route of the annual circular migration of the Gourma elephants crosses a number of communes in the cercles of Douentza and Gourma-Rharous (Tombouctou Region).[3][4][5]