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48-614: Mopti lies on the right bank of the Bani River , a few hundred meters upstream of the confluence of the Bani with the Niger River . Between August and December when the rivers flood the Inner Niger Delta , the town becomes a series of islands connected by raised causeways. During this period the only road access to the town is along a 12 km causeway that links Mopti to Sévaré . Mopti lies to

96-613: A hot semi-arid climate ( Köppen climate classification BSh ). The town lies near the southern boundary of the Sahel region and the weather is hot to sweltering and arid throughout much of the year. Only December and January at the height of the dry season have average daily maximum temperatures below 32.2 °C (90 °F). Average daily maximum temperatures in the hottest months of the year — April and May — exceed 40 °C or 104 °F. Temperatures are slightly cooler, though still very hot, from June through September, when practically all of

144-465: A 1999 documentary film, L'Esprit de Mopti . It is also the birthplace of Slovak celebrity Ibrahim Maiga . Niger River at Mopti Average monthly flow (m/s) at the Mopti hydrometric station over the period 1922-1990 Many ethnic groups are present in the commune including Fula , Bozo , Bambara , Dogon , Songhai , Bobos and Mossis . The most spoken language is Fula followed by Bozo . Mopti has

192-552: A campaign against the Malian government for independence or greater autonomy for northern Mali, which they called Azawad . The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), an organization fighting to make this area of Mali an independent homeland for the Tuareg people , had taken control of the region by April 2012. On 22 March 2012, President Amadou Toumani Touré was ousted in

240-538: A coup d'état over his handling of the crisis, a month before a presidential election was to have taken place. Mutinous soldiers, calling themselves the National Committee for the Restoration of Democracy and State (CNRDR), took control and suspended the constitution of Mali . As a consequence of the instability following the coup, Mali's three largest northern cities— Kidal , Gao and Timbuktu —were overrun by

288-460: A distance of 1308 km. Both passengers and freight are also transported by pinasses , large wooden canoe shaped vessels, that are privately operated. Mopti is connected by a 12 km elevated causeway to Sévaré which lies on the Route Nationale 16 (RN16), the bitumen surfaced road that links Bamako in the west to Gao in the east. There is an airport at Sévaré. The city is the subject of

336-620: A former president of Mali, is a native of Mopti. The Great Mosque (also called the Komoguel Mosque) is an example of Sudano-Sahelian architecture . The present building was constructed on the site of an earlier mosque dating from 1908 but sources differ on the exact date. The web site of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention gives a period of between 1933 and 1935 while the Aga Khan Development Network gives

384-620: A number of smaller Islamist groups began imposing strict Sharia law. The MNLA and Islamists struggled to reconcile their conflicting visions for an intended new state. Afterwards, the MNLA began fighting against Ansar Dine and other Islamist groups, including Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MOJWA/MUJAO), a splinter group of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb . By 17 July 2012, the MNLA had lost control of most of northern Mali's cities to

432-538: A process that still continues today in areas such as the western edge of the Old Town. In 2002, Mopti was one of several Malian cities to host the Cup of African Nations tournament. A large, modern stadium was constructed for this event. During the 2012 Northern Mali Conflict , when Islamists took over most of Northern Mali, Mopti was one of the most northerly towns that remained under government control. Amadou Toumani Touré ,

480-407: A reservoir with a capacity to retain 0.18 km (0.043 cu mi) of water. This volume represents 1.3% of the average annual discharge of the river (over the period 1952-2002 the average discharge was 13.4 km (3.2 cu mi) . A downstream flow of 10 m (350 cu ft)/s can be maintained during the dry season by opening a sluice gate. From the published information it

528-469: A weir in that water can flow over the top of the retaining wall. The construction of the dam was highly controversial. The environmental impact assessment commissioned by the African Development Bank was criticised for not fully taking into account the hydrological impact downstream of the dam. The retaining wall is 5 m (16 ft) high and 295 m (968 ft) in length, creating

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576-568: Is one element in a 6-year 66 million USD program that also includes the building of a dam on the Sankarani River near Kourouba and the extension of the area irrigated by the Talo dam. The proposed Djenné dam will retain 0.3 km (0.072 cu mi) of water, significantly more than the Talo dam. It will allow the "controlled flooding" of 14,000 ha of the Pondori floodplain (on the left bank of

624-519: Is still shipped from the port. At the time of Caillié's visit the village was part of the Massina Empire , controlled by Seku Amadu from his base at Hamdullahi , 21 km to the southeast. In 1862 Umar Tall captured Hamdullahi and for a short period the village became part of the Toucouleur Empire . In 1893 French forces under Louis Archinard occupied the region which then became part of

672-515: Is unclear how much of the total discharge will be diverted for irrigation and, of the diverted water, how much will drain back into the river. The downstream effect of the dam will be to delay the arrival of the annual flood and to reduce its intensity. In May 2009 the African Development Bank approved funding for an irrigation dam/weir to be built on the Bani near Soala, a village situated 12 km (7.5 mi) south of Djenné. The dam

720-605: The French Sudan . At the time of the French conquest, Mopti consisted of several separate settlements on small areas of higher ground that remained above the water during the annual flood. French soldiers exploring the Niger on gunboats described Mopti as consisting of a pair villages on the bank of the river 2 km apart with a third village slightly inland. According to the French colonial army officer, Capitaine Lucien Marc, in 1902 Mopti

768-578: The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad allied itself with the Islamist groups Ansar Dine and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and began the 2012 Northern Mali conflict. The MNLA was an offshoot of a political movement known as the National Movement for Azawad (MNA) prior to the insurgency. After the end of the First Libyan Civil War , an influx of weaponry led to the arming of

816-517: The Bani River is also highly seasonal, with the maximum flow occurring at the end of September and very little flow between February and June. The river enters the Inland Niger Delta north of San and after the annual rains the river floods (the French word crue is sometimes used) and covers the floodplain. There is a significant inter-annual variation in the rainfall and, as a consequence, in

864-673: The Baoulé that rises near Odienné in Côte d'Ivoire and passes just south of Bougouni , the Bagoé River that rises near Boundiali in Côte d'Ivoire and the Banifing-Lotio that drains the region around Sikasso . The drainage basin upstream of Douna has an area of 102,000 km (39,000 sq mi), 85% of which lies in southern Mali and 15% in northern Côte d'Ivoire. The annual rainfall varies across

912-640: The French intervention during Operation Barkhane (between January 2020 and April 2021) Tuareg rebellion (2012) : 2012 coup Internal conflict in Azawad : Foreign intervention : 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 The Mali War is an ongoing conflict that started in January 2012 between the northern and southern parts of Mali in Africa. On 16 January 2012, several insurgent groups began fighting

960-592: The Islamists as well, although the MNLA has also been accused of carrying out attacks against the Malian military. A peace deal between the government and Tuareg rebels was signed on 18 June 2013, however on 26 September 2013 the rebels pulled out of the peace agreement and claimed that the government had not respected its commitments to the truce. In mid-2014, the French military in Mali ended its Operation Serval and transitioned to

1008-525: The Islamists. The government of Mali asked for foreign military help to re-take the north. On 11 January 2013, the French military began operations against the Islamists . Forces from other African Union states were deployed shortly after. By 8 February, the Islamist-held territory had been re-taken by the Malian military, with help from the international coalition. Tuareg separatists have continued to fight

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1056-544: The MNLA took control of the city of Menaka when the Malian army operated what they called a tactical retreat. The violence in the north led to counterprotests in the capital city of Bamako . Dozens of Malian soldiers were also killed in fighting in Aguelhok. On 6 February, rebel forces attacked Kidal , a regional capital. On 4 March 2012, a new round of fighting was reported near the formerly rebel-held town of Tessalit. The next day, three Malian army units gave up trying to lift

1104-513: The Malian military. After the Malian coup in 2021 , the government and French forces in the country had a falling out, with the former demanding the latter's withdrawal. Amid popular Malian anti-French protests and increasing involvement in the war by the Russian mercenary Wagner Group and the Turkish, the French withdrew their forces entirely by 15 August 2022, ending their presence in the country. In

1152-641: The Mopti commune was 114,296. For administrative purposes the commune is subdivided into 11 quartiers : Komoguel I, Komoguel II, Gangal, Toguel, Bougoufié, Mossinkoré, Taïkiri, Médina Coura, Sévaré I, Sévaré II, and Sévaré III. The seat of the commune, the Hôtel de Ville de Mopti, is in Komoguel I. The town of Mopti derives its name from the Fulfulde word for gathering. The name replaced the earlier Bozo name of Sagan . Unlike towns such as Djenné , Timbuktu and Gao , Mopti

1200-464: The Tuareg in their demand for independence. The strength of this uprising and the use of heavy weapons, which were not present in the previous conflicts, were said to have "surprised" Malian officials and observers. Though dominated by Tuaregs, the MNLA claimed that they represented other ethnic groups as well, and were reportedly joined by some Arab leaders. The MNLA's leader Bilal Ag Acherif said that

1248-505: The annual rainfall occurs. Bani River Bani River at Douna The Bani River is the principal tributary of the Niger River in Mali . The river is formed from the confluence of the Baoulé and Bagoé rivers some 160 km (99 mi) east of Bamako and it merges with the Niger near Mopti . Its length is about 1,100 km (680 mi). The Bani River has three main tributaries:

1296-452: The broader regional counterterrorist effort, Operation Barkhane . Despite a ceasefire agreement signed on 19 February 2015 in Algiers , Algeria , and a peace accord in the capital on 15 April 2015, fighting continued. Starting in 2018, there was an increase in rebel attacks in the Sahel , accompanied by a French troop surge. Mali experienced two coups in 2020 and 2021, both orchestrated by

1344-472: The catchment basin with the southern area in Côte d'Ivoire receiving 1,500 mm (59 in) a year while the northern area around Douna receiving only 700 mm (28 in). For the period 1965-1995 the average annual rainfall for the basin was 1,100 mm (43 in). The rainfall is seasonal with most of the rain falling between May and October. The maximum rainfall occurs in August. The discharge of

1392-570: The discharge of the Bani River is less than in the wet decades of the 1950s and 1960s. In 2006 the Talo Dam was constructed to irrigate parts of the floodplain to the south of the river near the town of San . Prior to the construction of the dam, these areas were only fully flooded in very wet years, the most recent of which occurred in 1967. The dam is located 43 km (27 mi) west of San, 66 km (41 mi) downstream of Douna and 110 km (68 mi) upstream of Djenné . The dam acts as

1440-526: The discharge of the river was reduced by 75%. The effect of the reduced rainfall was less extreme for other tributaries of the Niger. Over the same period the catchment basin of the Upper Niger suffered a similar 20% reduction in rainfall but the readings at the Koulikoro gauge station were only reduced to 50% of the earlier values. Because of the accumulated groundwater deficit, even in a year with high rainfall,

1488-603: The early 1990s, Tuareg and Arab nomads formed the People's Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MPA) and declared war for independence of the northern part of Mali. Despite peace agreements with the government of Mali in 1991 and 1995 a growing dissatisfaction among the former Tuareg fighters, who had been integrated into the Malian Armed Forces , led to new fighting in 2007. Despite historically having difficulty maintaining alliances between secular and Islamist factions,

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1536-452: The floodplains, herded livestock and fished with cotton nets. Large quantities of the dried fish were traded in Djenné and other markets. The women made a "beautiful kind of pottery" which they sold in Djenné and to boats heading for Timbuktu. Two centuries later, the cultivation of rice is still very important to the local economy, dried fish are exported over a large part of West Africa and pottery

1584-493: The local economy. Mopti is popular with tourists, having an active river port , a mosque , and across the Niger, small fishing villages. Attractions in Mopti include Mopti Grand Mosque and the nearby Pays Dogon . There are several popular hotels, the Hotel Kanaga, Hotel Y a pas de Problème, and Hotel Ambedjele which is on the road to Sévaré . During the 2012 Northern Mali conflict , most Western tourists stayed away from

1632-474: The next day. On 24 January, the rebels retook Aguelhok after the Malian army ran out of ammunition. The next day, the Mali government once again recaptured the city. Mali launched air and land counter operations to take back the seized territory, amid protests in Bamako and Kati . Malian president Amadou Toumani Touré then reorganised his senior commanders for the fight against the rebels. On 1 February 2012,

1680-523: The onus was on Mali to either give the Saharan peoples their self-determination or they would take it themselves. Another Tuareg-dominated group, the Islamist Ansar Dine ( Defenders of Faith ), initially fought alongside the MNLA against the government. Unlike the MNLA, it did not seek independence, but rather the imposition of Islamic law ( Sharia ) across Mali. The movement's leader Iyad Ag Ghaly

1728-2455: The period 1952-2002 the average flow at Douna was 424 m (15,000 cu ft)/s compared with 1,280 m (45,000 cu ft)/s for the Niger at Koulikoro . 14°29′N 4°12′W  /  14.483°N 4.200°W  / 14.483; -4.200 Northern Mali conflict [REDACTED]   Mali [REDACTED]   Russia (since 2021) [REDACTED]   France (2013–22) Supported by: [REDACTED] MINUSMA (2013–23) Supported by: Non-state combatants: [REDACTED] Ganda Iso [REDACTED] MAA-Loyaliste [REDACTED] MSA (2016–) [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) [REDACTED] Al-Qaeda and allies [REDACTED] Nigerian jihadist volunteers (2012–13) [REDACTED] Assimi Goïta (2021–) [REDACTED] Choguel Kokalla Maïga (2021–2024) [REDACTED] 6,000–7,000 (pre-war: ~12,150) [REDACTED] 3,000 [REDACTED] 2,000 [REDACTED] 1,400 (2022) [REDACTED] 1,216 [REDACTED] 1,200 [REDACTED] 733 [REDACTED] 650 [REDACTED] 500 [REDACTED] 500 [REDACTED] 500 [REDACTED] 500 [REDACTED] 450 [REDACTED] 400 (2021) [REDACTED] 395 [REDACTED] 300 [REDACTED] 300 [REDACTED] 250 [REDACTED] 144 [REDACTED] 120 [REDACTED] 100 [REDACTED] ~50 Total: 23,564+ [REDACTED] 545 ( EUTM ) [REDACTED] 1,200–3,000 [REDACTED] 181+ killed, 400 captured Total: 1,000–1,500+ killed, captured or deserted (by April 2012) [REDACTED] 428+ killed [REDACTED] 104 killed [REDACTED] 58 killed [REDACTED] 26 killed [REDACTED] 26 killed [REDACTED] Wagner group 25–82+ killed [REDACTED] 15 killed [REDACTED] 27 killed [REDACTED] 10 killed [REDACTED] 7 killed [REDACTED] 7 killed [REDACTED] 5 killed [REDACTED] 4 killed [REDACTED] 6–65 killed (conflict with Malian Army) 26–123 killed (conflict with Islamists) [REDACTED] 115 killed (Conflict with Tuaregs) [REDACTED] 625 killed (French intervention during Operation Serval ) [REDACTED] estimated 2,800+ killed and 169+ captured due

1776-409: The quantity of water flowing in the river. The drought that started at the beginning of the 1970s led to a very large reduction in the flow and up to the present time the volumes are still much lower than those observed in the 1950s and 1960s. The reduction in the flow of the river was much greater than the reduction in the rainfall. The average rainfall for 1981-1989 was 20% less than for 1961-1970 while

1824-429: The rebels on three consecutive days. On 5 April 2012, after the capture of Douentza , the MNLA said that it had accomplished its goals and called off its offensive. The following day, it proclaimed the independence of northern Mali from the rest of the country, renaming it Azawad. The MNLA were initially backed by the Islamist group Ansar Dine . After the Malian military was driven from northern Mali, Ansar Dine and

1872-541: The rebuilding of the great mosque in 1933, basing the design on that of the Great Mosque of Djenné . Due to the limited land available, Mopti became more densely built than most Malian cities with many multi-story buildings and narrow streets. Originally, the islands were much smaller than they are today; first linked by dykes in the early twentieth century, the areas around and between natural islands have been gradually filled and raised—often by deposition of household trash,

1920-573: The region, even though Mopti was not in rebel hands. However, the conflict had a mixed effect on the town as dispossessed people from the rebel-held area came to Mopti and boosted some parts of the economy. The port of Mopti is served by ferries operated by the Compagnie Malienne de Navigation (COMANAV). The ferries run between August and December when the depth of water in the river is sufficient. They carry both freight and passengers between Koulikoro (59 km downstream from Bamako ) and Gao ,

1968-512: The river to the south of Djenné) to allow the cultivation of rice and the irrigation of an additional 5000 ha for growing 'floating grass' ( Echinochloa stagnina know locally as bourgou ) for animal feed. The effects of the dams on the flooding of the Inland Niger Delta downstream of Mopti are expected to be modest, as the discharge of the Bani is only one third of that of the Niger: for

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2016-458: The siege. The United States Air Force air-dropped supplies via C-130 Hercules aircraft in support of the besieged Malian soldiers. The C-130's most likely came from either Ouagadougou , Burkina Faso , or Mauritania , both of which are known to have been used by the United States military . On 11 March, the MNLA re-took Tessalit and its airport, and the Malian military forces fled towards

2064-420: The slightly later period of between 1936 and 1943. The design was based on that of the Great Mosque of Djenné and is constructed using sun-dried mud bricks which are covered with a layer of banco. In restoration work carried out in 1978, the upper parts of the building were covered with a layer of cement but this later proved to be problematic as rain water penetrated the cement layer and created large fissures in

2112-717: The underlying mud structure. In the restoration carried out between 2004 and 2006 funded by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture , the cement layer was removed and the building restored to its original form. The mosque was added to the UNESCO Tentative List of World Heritage Sites in March 2009. Mopti is the region's commercial center and Mali's most important port; markets around its harbour sell rock salt from Taoudenni , among many other goods. Fishing, herding, and agriculture (particularly rice production) also continue to be important to

2160-575: The west of the Dogon Plateau and is 66 km northwest of Bandiagara and 76 km north-northeast of Djenné . The town is the capital of the Mopti Region and the administrative center of the Mopti Cercle . The urban commune of Mopti includes the towns of both Mopti and Sévaré. The commune is completely surrounded by the rural commune of Socoura . At the time of the 2009 census the population of

2208-428: Was a "miserable village" with a few huts. Between 1905 and 1912 the French colonial forces constructed a 12 km dyke connecting Mopti with Sévaré to allow access to the town by road when the Niger was in flood. The village expanded rapidly in the first decade of the 20th century, and by the 1930s the commercial area on the river and the Komoguel district had been developed. The French colonial administration initiated

2256-433: Was a village until the French conquest at the end of the 19th century and did not play an important role in the history of the region. In April 1828 the French explorer, René Caillié , stopped at Mopti on his journey by boat from Djenné to Timbuktu . In his account he described the village, which he called Isaca, as having 700-800 inhabitants with the houses constructed of sun-dried mud bricks. The inhabitants grew rice on

2304-744: Was part of the early 1990s rebellion and has been reported to be linked to an offshoot of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) that is led by his cousin Hamada Ag Hama as well as Algeria's Department of Intelligence and Security . Mali was going through several crises at once that favored the rise of the conflict: The first attacks of the rebellion took place in Ménaka , a small town in far eastern Mali, on 16 and 17 January 2012. On 17 January, attacks in Aguelhok and Tessalit were reported. The Mali government claimed to have regained control of all three towns

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