Tinzawaten

Tinzaouaten is a Saharan rural commune in the far northeast of Mali, directly on the Algerian border (mirrored by the Algerian settlement of Tin Zaouatine on the other side), within the Abeïbara Cercle of the Kidal Region. Historically it was a stop on a trans-Saharan trade route and a French colonial-era frontier military post. The population, recorded at around 2,300 (mostly nomadic Tuareg) in the 2009 census, has been sharply reduced by conflict: by 2020 only a few families remained. Tinzaouaten has repeatedly been a flashpoint in Mali's northern conflict, including fighting in 2012 and a multi-day battle in 2024 between Tuareg rebel forces and Malian army/allied units.

Tô (a millet or sorghum porridge served with sauce) is a staple of Malian home cooking countrywide.

Sweet mint tea (attaya) is the customary drink across Mali.

• Kidal — regional capital