Ménaka | |
|---|---|
 Ménaka Cercle in Mali | |
  Ménaka  Ménaka | |
| Coordinates:16°35′N2°50′E / 16.583°N 2.833°E /16.583; 2.833 | |
| Country |  Mali |
| Region | Ménaka |
| Admin HQ (Chef-lieu) | Ménaka |
| Area | |
• Total | 14,900 km2 (5,800 sq mi) |
| Population (2009 Census)[2] | |
• Total | 20,702 |
| • Density | 1.4/km2 (3.6/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
Ménaka Cercle is an administrative subdivision ofMénaka Region,Mali. Its administrative center is the town ofMénaka. Ménaka Cercle's population as of 2009 was 56,104 people. Ménaka is located in the middle of theSahara Desert, alongWadi Ezgeuret and an ancient dry river valley of theIullemmeden Basin. Its highest point,Mount Abourak, is located around 150 km to the north of the town of Ménaka. Most of the small population arenomadicTuaregtribal populations;minorities include theWodaabeFula and sedentarySonghai people. The area is a traditional center of theKel Dinnik Tuareg confederation, along with the town ofAndéramboukane near theNigerien border.[3]
The current Ménaka Cercle is the successor to a previouscommune of the same name. Prior to 2016, a different Ménaka Cercle existed corresponding to the current Ménaka Region. It was divided into fivecommunes:[4]
On 22 January, four foreign tourists were reported kidnapped in Ménaka Cercle, while traveling by auto from a festival at Anderamboukané on the main road toMénaka, and on toGao. OneBriton, one German, and two Swiss citizens were reportedly kidnapped. One of their vehicles escaped the attack, and one which was seized was later found abandoned across the border nearBani-Bangou,Niger.[5][6][7][8] The German and one of the Swiss citizens were released in April 2009. The Briton was killed in May 2009. The other Swiss citizen was released in July 2009.[9]
On 25 November, a Frenchman called Pierre Camatte was taken hostage from a hotel inMénaka city. A January 2010 statement issued by the north African branch of al-Qaeda, sets an ultimatum of 20 days for the exchange of four of al-Qaeda members by Pierre Camatte, after which, it says, the French and Malian governments "will be fully responsible for the French hostage's life". Camatte was released in exchange for the four prisoners in February 2010.[10]
