Aguelhok Explained

Aguelhok
Settlement Type:Commune and town
Pushpin Map:Mali
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Mali
Pushpin Mapsize:300
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Mali
Subdivision Type1:County
Subdivision Name1:Kidal Region
Area Total Km2:22000
Population As Of:2009
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:8080
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Blank1 Title:Ethnicities
Population Blank2 Title:Religions
Coordinates:19.465°N 0.856°W

Aguelhok also known as Adjelhoc (the official name) is a rural commune and village in the Kidal Region of eastern Mali in the Tessalit Cercle. In the census of 2009 the commune had a population of 8,080.[1]

Geography

Adjelhoc is situated in the north of the Tilemsi Valley. Located in the sandstone massif of the Adrar des Ifoghas, Adjelhoc lies 430 km north of Gao and 150 km south of the Algerian border, in open desert.

The area of the commune is approximately 22,000 km2, that is to say the equivalent of Belize.[2]

The population is 95% Tuareg. The majority have a nomadic lifestyle.

In January 2012, the Islamist group Ansar Dine captured a military base at Aguelhok from Malian government forces.[3] France accused the group of summarily executing 82 soldiers and following the capture, describing the group's tactics as "Al-Qaeda-style". In all 128-153 soldiers were killed.

On 29 July 2012, Islamists stoned a couple to death for having children outside of marriage. An official reported that many people left the town for Algeria following the incident.[4]

Notes and References

  1. .
  2. .
  3. Web site: Islamist fighters call for Sharia law in Mali . Agence France-Presse . 21 March 2012 . 25 March 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120525050405/http://www.africasia.com/services/news_africa/article.php?ID=CNG.1917c4fef3978cd3368f40fb9f61aca9.5a1 . May 25, 2012 .
  4. Web site: Islamists in North Mali Stone Couple to Death . Adam Nossiter . 30 July 2012 . The New York Times . 30 July 2012.