Sakaraha
{{About|town|the district|Sakaraha (district)||}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Sakaraha
|image_skyline = Sakaraha.jpg
|image_alt =
|image_map = Toliara_Sakaraha.png
|mapsize = 183px
|map_caption = Map of former Toliara Province showing the location of Sakaraha (red).
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = Madagascar
|subdivision_type1 = Region
|subdivision_name1 = Atsimo-Andrefana
|subdivision_type2 = District
|subdivision_name2 = Sakaraha
|population_as_of = 2018
|population_footnotes = Census
|population_total = 31,183
|postal_code_type = Postal code
|postal_code = 620
}}
Sakaraha is a rural municipality in Atsimo-Andrefana Region, south-western Madagascar. It has a population of 31,183 in 2018.
Geography
Sakaraha is situated along route nationale No. 7 (Tuléar-Fianarantsoa) at 134 km from Tuléar, 64 km from Andranovory and 84 km from Ilakaka.Atlas Mondial, France Loisir, page 159
It is situated at the Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park.
Economy
Mining: there are sapphires found in the town of Sakaraha.
Natural gas was discovered near Sakaraha by Madagascar Southern Petroleum Company (MSCP) in 2011.{{in lang|fr}} [http://www.lexpressmada.com/combustible-madagascar/27189-du-gaz-naturel-gicle-a-sakaraha.html L'express de Madagascar - 8 September 2011] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214144214/http://www.lexpressmada.com/combustible-madagascar/27189-du-gaz-naturel-gicle-a-sakaraha.html |date=14 December 2013 }} There are also some oil deposits near Sakaraha but there is no commercial exploration.[https://www.jacaranda.fr/en/economie-energie-serieux-indices-de-petrole-sakaraha (in French) Jacaranda.fr]
On 31 January 2007, Saudi terrorist Mohammed Jamal Khalifa was murdered by 25 to 30 armed men while visiting a gemstone mine he owned in Sakamilko, near the town of Sakaraha. He had recently called in local police to evict people who had been working the gem mine in his absence. Though all his belongings had been stolen there is some conjecture that the death was politically motivated.[http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view_article.php?article_id=46785 "Bin Laden brother-in-law shot dead in Madagascar" Philippine Daily Inquirer] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618224907/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view_article.php?article_id=46785 |date=18 June 2008 }} accessed on 31 January 2007[https://www.theguardian.com/saudi/story/0,,2024732,00.html "Gems, al-Qaida and Murder: Mystery over killing of Osama Bin Laden's friend" The Guardian World news section] accessed on 31 January 2007 Khalifa's family came to believe that he was assassinated by operators from the Joint Special Operations Command.[http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view_article.php?article_id=46785 "Bin Laden brother-in-law shot dead in Madagascar" Philippine Daily Inquirer] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618224907/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view_article.php?article_id=46785 |date=18 June 2008 }} accessed on 31 January 2007[https://www.theguardian.com/saudi/story/0,,2024732,00.html "Gems, al-Qaida and Murder: Mystery over killing of Osama Bin Laden's friend" The Guardian World news section] accessed on 31 January 2007
References
{{Reflist}}
File:Sakaraha-Toliara-Province-Madagascar.jpg
{{Atsimo-Andrefana Region}}
{{coord|22|55|0|S|44|32|59|E|type:city_region:MG|display=title}}
Category:Populated places in Atsimo-Andrefana
Category:Sapphire mines in Madagascar
{{AtsimoAndrefana-geo-stub}}