Agadez

{{see also|Sultanate of Aïr}}

Agadez was founded before the 14th century, and, by growing around trans-Saharan trade, gradually became the most important city of the Tuareg people, supplanting Assodé. The city still sees the arrival of caravans bringing salt from Bilma.

In 1449 Agadez became a sultanate, but was later conquered by the Songhai Empire in 1515,{{Cite book |last1=Idrissa |first1=Rahmane |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ArS6_nGsar4C&q=agadez&pg=PA423 |title=Historical Dictionary of Niger |last2=Idrissa |first2=Abdourahmane |last3=Decalo |first3=Samuel |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-8108-6094-0 |pages=34 |language=en |access-date=24 October 2020 |archive-date=1 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201105351/https://books.google.com/books?id=ArS6_nGsar4C&q=agadez&pg=PA423 |url-status=live }} remaining a part of that empire until 1591.Geels, Jolijn, (2006) Bradt Travel Guide - Niger, pgs. 157-200 At this point, the city had a population of around 30,000 people. By then, the city was a key passage for the medieval caravans trading between the West African cities of Kano (the source of the Hausa language which is the traditional lingua franca of different ethnic groups in the city, especially in the area of trade, religion and administration) and Timbuktu, and the North African oases of Ghat, Ghadames, and Tripoli, on the Mediterranean shore. Internal fighting led to the gradual decline of the sultanate, and by the mid-19th century the town was a shadow of its former self.

Some contend that Agadez was the furthermost extent of the Ottoman Empire on the African continent until the 19th century, before being occupied by the French colonial empire, though this claim has not been verified by historians.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldbulletin.net/news/123016/ottoman-dynasty-still-alive-in-africa |title=Ottoman dynasty still alive in Africa - World Bulletin |website=worldbulletin.net |access-date=6 April 2018 |archive-date=28 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728151700/http://www.worldbulletin.net/news/123016/ottoman-dynasty-still-alive-in-africa |url-status=usurped }} The city was ruled by the French from 1906. A rebellion by Kaocen Ag Mohammed occurred in 1916, but was defeated by French forces. The French, unable to effectively administer this remote region, ruled semi-indirectly via a restored sultan. Later, Agadez became an important location in the Tuareg Rebellion of the 1990s in central and northern Niger.

As a result of the Second Tuareg Rebellion, sporadic violence and the displacement of thousands of people affected the Agadez area from late 2007 into 2009. All of northern Niger was placed on the United States State Department list of areas which are unsafe for travel by United States citizens, covering late 2007 to the end of 2008.{{Cite journal |last=Keenan |first=Jeremy |date=2008 |title=Uranium Goes Critical in Niger: Tuareg Rebellions threaten Sahelian Conflagration |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/20406532 |journal=Review of African Political Economy |volume=35 |issue=117 |pages=449–466 |doi=10.1080/03056240802411107 |jstor=20406532 |s2cid=154031995 |issn=0305-6244|hdl=10.1080/03056240802411107 |hdl-access=free }} Tourist flights to Agadez were suspended by European airlines for the 2007–2008 tourist season (September – March). The burgeoning tourist industry, which prior to 2007 had surpassed that of Niamey and the rest of the nation, essentially came to an end. The entire region was placed under a Nigerien government State of Exception (limiting travel, gatherings, political activities, etc.) in October 2007, renewed through early 2009. Roads to and from Agadez were reported to have been mined, and the government closed the area to international journalists and aid organizations. An unknown number (reported as several thousands) of internally displaced people converged on the city as a result of the unrest.

In the 2010s, Agadez became a major transit town for West African migrants heading to Libya and then on to Europe,{{Cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/02/niger-europe-migrants-jihad-africa/553019/ |title=A Dangerous Immigration Crackdown in West Africa |website=The Atlantic |date=11 February 2018 |access-date=3 June 2019 |archive-date=3 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603131100/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/02/niger-europe-migrants-jihad-africa/553019/ |url-status=live }} since Agadez is the final stop before passing through the long trek across the Sahara towards the Libyan coast.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-25 |title=The perilous migration across the desert of Niger: Africa's hidden story |url=https://www.oxfam.org/en/perilous-migration-across-desert-niger-africas-hidden-story |access-date=2022-05-25 |website=Oxfam International |language=en}} Crackdowns in 2016 slowed the flow of migrants, but recent Displacement Tracking Matrix data showed a daily average of 1,212 individuals crossing at six monitored points in Niger,{{Cite web |url=http://www.globaldtm.info/niger/ |title=Niger – DTM |access-date=3 June 2019 |archive-date=16 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116063121/http://www.globaldtm.info/niger/ |url-status=dead}} many of whom would have been coming through Agadez. The city now hosts hundreds of migrants living in small houses on the outskirts of the city before moving on to Libya.

{{Historical populations|1977|20,643 |1988|49,424|2001|77,060|2012|110,497|align=none|footnote=source:{{Cite web |url=http://www.citypopulation.de/en/niger/cities/ |title=Niger: Administrative Division population statistics |access-date=21 November 2019 |archive-date=21 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321050141/https://www.citypopulation.de/en/niger/cities/ |url-status=live }}}}

File:1997 277-9A Agadez mosque cropped.jpg

Today, Agadez flourishes as a market town and as a centre for the transportation of the uranium mined in the surrounding area. Notable buildings in the city include the Agadez Grand Mosque (originally dating from 1515 but rebuilt in the same style in 1844), the Kaocen Palace (now a hotel), and the Agadez Sultan's Palace. The city is also known for its camel market and its silver and leatherwork. Its name is given to a form of Tuareg symbolic jewellery, the Agadez Cross.{{Cite journal |last=Beltrami |first=V. |date=1994-09-01 |title=Croix d'Agadez |url=https://journals.openedition.org/encyclopedieberbere/2338 |journal=Encyclopédie berbère |language=fr |issue=14 |pages=2129–2133 |doi=10.4000/encyclopedieberbere.2338 |issn=1015-7344}}

Some well-known musicians from the town include Tuareg guitar player Bombino and his band Group Bombino, and Group Inerane. Mdou Moctar's film, Akounak Teggdalit Taha Tazoughai, is set and filmed on location in Agadez.{{cite web |title=www.conceptoradio.net/2013/11/13/sahel-sounds-algunos-artistas-africanos-nunca-han-visto-un-vinilo/ |url=http://www.conceptoradio.net/2013/11/13/sahel-sounds-algunos-artistas-africanos-nunca-han-visto-un-vinilo/ |work=conceptoradio |access-date=30 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231001149/http://www.conceptoradio.net/2013/11/13/sahel-sounds-algunos-artistas-africanos-nunca-han-visto-un-vinilo/ |archive-date=31 December 2013 |url-status=dead}}

File:Niger, Agadez, Airport 1.jpg

Agadez's air transport hub, Mano Dayak International Airport, was named after Mano Dayak, the Tuareg leader who is native to the region.

The United States built Nigerien Air Base 201, a dedicated drone airbase in Agadez from which it can more easily monitor terrorist activities in West and North Africa, and the Sahel.{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/3-special-forces-troops-are-killed-and-2-wounded-in-ambush-in-niger/ar-AAsUW3L?OCID=ansmsnnews11 |title=3 special forces troops are killed and 2 wounded in ambush in Niger |newspaper=MSN.com |access-date=5 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005100905/http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/3-special-forces-troops-are-killed-and-2-wounded-in-ambush-in-niger/ar-AAsUW3L?OCID=ansmsnnews11 |archive-date=5 October 2017 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/pentagon-set-to-open-second-drone-base-in-niger-as-it-expands-operations-in-africa/2014/08/31/365489c4-2eb8-11e4-994d-202962a9150c_story.html |title=Pentagon set to open second drone base in niger as it expands operations in Africa |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=5 October 2017 |archive-date=7 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407033825/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/pentagon-set-to-open-second-drone-base-in-niger-as-it-expands-operations-in-africa/2014/08/31/365489c4-2eb8-11e4-994d-202962a9150c_story.html |url-status=live }} It was revealed in 2016 that the military base in Niger cost the U.S. $100 million.{{cite news |url=https://theintercept.com/2016/09/29/u-s-military-is-building-a-100-million-drone-base-in-africa/ |title=U.S. MILITARY IS BUILDING A $100 MILLION DRONE BASE IN AFRICA |newspaper=The Intercept |date=29 September 2016 |access-date=14 January 2018 |archive-date=20 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120225741/https://theintercept.com/2016/09/29/u-s-military-is-building-a-100-million-drone-base-in-africa/ |url-status=live }}

Air pollution, including particulate matter and dust, poses significant health risks due to their microscopic size and potential inhalation into the deepest parts of the lung.{{Cite web |title=Air Quality & Pollen Forecast for Agadez |url=https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/outdoorsports/airquality/agadez_niger_2448085 |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=meteoblue |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Agadez Air Quality Index (AQI) and Niger Air Pollution {{!}} IQAir |url=https://www.iqair.com/niger/agadez |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=www.iqair.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Air Quality Agadez: Live air quality and pollution Forecasts |url=https://air.plumelabs.com/air-quality-in-Agadez-agRf |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=Plume Labs Air Report |language=en}}{{Clear}}

Agadez has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh).

{{Weather box

| location = Agadez, Niger (1961-1990 normals, extremes 1957-present)

| metric first = Yes

| single line = yes

| Jan record high C = 40.0

| Feb record high C = 41.1

| Mar record high C = 46.0

| Apr record high C = 45.8

| May record high C = 47.0

| Jun record high C = 49.1

| Jul record high C = 48.0

| Aug record high C = 44.7

| Sep record high C = 47.0

| Oct record high C = 42.6

| Nov record high C = 40.0

| Dec record high C = 39.9

| Jan high C = 27.9

| Feb high C = 31.1

| Mar high C = 35.0

| Apr high C = 39.2

| May high C = 41.3

| Jun high C = 41.3

| Jul high C = 39.1

| Aug high C = 37.9

| Sep high C = 38.9

| Oct high C = 37.1

| Nov high C = 32.4

| Dec high C = 29.0

| year high C = 35.8

| Jan mean C = 19.8

| Feb mean C = 22.5

| Mar mean C = 26.7

| Apr mean C = 31.2

| May mean C = 33.7

| Jun mean C = 33.8

| Jul mean C = 32.1

| Aug mean C = 31.0

| Sep mean C = 31.7

| Oct mean C = 29.4

| Nov mean C = 24.3

| Dec mean C = 21.0

| year mean C = 28.1

| Jan low C = 11.7

| Feb low C = 13.9

| Mar low C = 18.3

| Apr low C = 23.1

| May low C = 26.0

| Jun low C = 26.4

| Jul low C = 25.1

| Aug low C = 24.2

| Sep low C = 24.5

| Oct low C = 21.7

| Nov low C = 16.2

| Dec low C = 12.8

| year low C = 20.3

| Jan record low C = 4.2

| Feb record low C = 5.5

| Mar record low C = 8.0

| Apr record low C = 12.6

| May record low C = 17.8

| Jun record low C = 18.6

| Jul record low C = 17.8

| Aug record low C = 15.2

| Sep record low C = 16.0

| Oct record low C = 8.6

| Nov record low C = 5.5

| Dec record low C = 3.4

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 0.0

| Feb precipitation mm = 0.0

| Mar precipitation mm = 0.1

| Apr precipitation mm = 2.0

| May precipitation mm = 5.5

| Jun precipitation mm = 10.4

| Jul precipitation mm = 35.2

| Aug precipitation mm = 49.7

| Sep precipitation mm = 8.2

| Oct precipitation mm = 0.3

| Nov precipitation mm = 0.0

| Dec precipitation mm = 0.0

| year precipitation mm = 111.5

|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 0.0

|Feb precipitation days = 0.0

|Mar precipitation days = 0.0

|Apr precipitation days = 0.1

|May precipitation days = 0.7

|Jun precipitation days = 1.9

|Jul precipitation days = 5.6

|Aug precipitation days = 6.2

|Sep precipitation days = 1.5

|Oct precipitation days = 0.0

|Nov precipitation days = 0.0

|Dec precipitation days = 0.0

|year precipitation days = 16.2

|Jan humidity = 22

|Feb humidity = 18

|Mar humidity = 15

|Apr humidity = 14

|May humidity = 18

|Jun humidity = 24

|Jul humidity = 39

|Aug humidity = 45

|Sep humidity = 29

|Oct humidity = 20

|Nov humidity = 22

|Dec humidity = 23

| Jan sun = 297.6

| Feb sun = 280.0

| Mar sun = 294.5

| Apr sun = 288.0

| May sun = 297.6

| Jun sun = 270.0

| Jul sun = 288.3

| Aug sun = 285.2

| Sep sun = 285.0

| Oct sun = 306.9

| Nov sun = 303.0

| Dec sun = 294.5

| year sun = 3504.0

|Jan percentsun = 86

|Feb percentsun = 87

|Mar percentsun = 80

|Apr percentsun = 77

|May percentsun = 75

|Jun percentsun = 69

|Jul percentsun = 72

|Aug percentsun = 73

|Sep percentsun = 79

|Oct percentsun = 85

|Nov percentsun = 90

|Dec percentsun = 86

|year percentsun = 80

| source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web |url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/NG/61024.TXT |title=Agadez Climate Normals 1961–1990 |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date=19 February 2015}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/datasets/GHCND/stations/GHCND:NG000061024/detail

| title = Daily Summaries Station Details

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| accessdate = January 18, 2023

}}

|source 2 = DWD (precipitation days 1951-1990, humidity 1973-1994){{cite web

| url = https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_610240_kt.pdf

| title = Klimatafel von Agades / Niger

| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst

| accessdate = January 18, 2023

}}

}}

• Nasarawa, near the Agadez Mosque{{cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/04/10/the-desperate-journey-of-a-trafficked-girl |magazine=The New Yorker |date=April 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403090127/http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/04/10/the-desperate-journey-of-a-trafficked-girl |archive-date=April 3, 2017 |title=The Desperate Journey of a Trafficked Girl |first=Ben |last=Taub |quote=Most Nigerian brothels in Agadez are in the Nasarawa slum, a sewage-filled neighborhood a short walk from the grand mosque, the tallest mud-brick structure in the world.}}
• Sabon Gari
• Bariki
• Dag Manet
• Azin

{{reflist|30em}}

{{refbegin}}

• Aboubacar Adamou. "Agadez et sa région. Contribution à l'étude du Sahel et du Sahara nigériens", Études nigériennes, n°44, (1979), 358 p.
• Julien Brachet. Migrations transsahariennes. Vers un désert cosmopolite et morcelé (Niger). Paris: Le Croquant, (2009), 324 p. {{ISBN|978-2-914968-65-2}}.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080123143722/http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200301/agadez-sultanate.of.the.sahara.htm Louis Werner. Agadez, Sultanate of the Sahara]. Saudi Aaramco World, January/February 2003. Volume 54, Number 1.
• Samuel Decalo. Historical Dictionary of Niger. Scarecrow Press, London and New Jersey (1979). {{ISBN|0-8108-1229-0}}
• Jolijn Geels. Niger. Bradt London and Globe Pequot New York (2006). {{ISBN|1-84162-152-8}}.
• [http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Niger_native.html#The Berber Sultanate of Aïr worldstatesmen.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106104556/http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Niger_native.html#The |date=6 January 2008 }}: Chronology of the Berber Sultanate of Aïr, based in Agadez.

{{refend}}

{{Commons category}}

{{NIE Poster|Agades}}

• {{Wikivoyage inline}}
• {{in lang|en}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20060622224827/http://www.ulivewhere.com/low/downloads/download-agadez.html Audio interview with Agadez resident about life in Agadez. Great place]
• http://www.agadez.org Site covering Northern Niger. Photo Gallery by Michel Batlle "portraits de femmes touarègues"
• [https://archive.today/20121216123418/http://www.planeteafrique.com/Niger/index.asp?affiche=Villes/Carte.asp&rub=Villes-R%E9gions interactive Map] of the Agadez region.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20161126050447/http://www.agadez-niger.com/ Site covering Agadez and Touareg culture]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iosl6uNcz2w Agadez, the touareg capital of the nigerien region of Air] YouTube

{{Communes of Niger}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Communes of Niger

Category:Tuareg

Category:Agadez Region

Category:World Heritage Sites in Niger

Category:Berber populated places