Kidal

Kidal Region is the northeasternmost administrative region of Mali, covering roughly 150,000 km² of Saharan desert and highlands, including the Adrar des Ifoghas massif that extends into Algeria. It is historically the territory of the Kel Adagh Tuareg confederation. The region was established as a distinct administrative division following the 1991 National Pact peace agreement with Tuareg insurgents. Since the 2012 Tuareg rebellion, the region has been repeatedly contested between the Malian state, Tuareg separatist groups, and Islamist armed groups, and remains one of the most conflict-affected parts of the Sahel.

The Kidal Region has a Saharan climate: a cooler, drier season roughly from November to February, an intensely hot dry season through March–June, and a brief, sparse rainy period roughly June to September. Independent of season, security conditions are the overriding factor for any travel to this area. The region's Festival au Désert, which once drew international visitors, has been suspended indefinitely due to the ongoing conflict.

• Kidal — Remote regional capital
• Tessalit — Saharan town near the Algeria border
• Aguelhok — Remote Tuareg settlement
• Tinzawaten — Far northern settlement on the Algeria border
• Abeïbara — Remote Saharan village