Tinzaouaten

{{For|the Algerian commune located in In Guezzam Province|Tin Zaouatine}}

{{Infobox settlement

|name = Tinzaouaten

|other_name =

|native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|ar|تين ظواتين}}
ⵜⵉⵏⵣⴰⵡⴰⵜⴰⵏ}}

|nickname =

|settlement_type = Commune and village

|motto =

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|map_caption =

|pushpin_map = Mali

|pushpin_label_position = bottom

|pushpin_mapsize = 300

|pushpin_map_caption = Location in Mali

|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = {{flag|Mali}}

|subdivision_type1 = Region

|subdivision_name1 = Kidal Region

|subdivision_type2 = Cercle

|subdivision_name2 = Abeïbara Cercle

|subdivision_type3 =

|subdivision_name3 =

|

|government_footnotes =

|government_type =

| parts_type = Control

| parts_style = para

| p1 = Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin

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|area_footnotes = {{citation |title=Plan de Sécurité Alimentaire Commune Rurale Tinzawatene 2007-2011 |publisher=Commissariat à la Sécurité Alimentaire, République du Mali, USAID-Mali |year=2007 |url=http://www.aec.msu.edu/fs2/mali_fd_strtgy/plans/kidal/abeibara/psa_tinzawatene.pdf |language=French |access-date=2012-05-02 |archive-date=2012-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918145205/http://www.aec.msu.edu/fs2/mali_fd_strtgy/plans/kidal/abeibara/psa_tinzawatene.pdf |url-status=live }}.

|area_total_km2 = 8,750

|area_land_km2 =

|population_as_of = 2009 census

|population_footnotes = {{citation|url=http://instat.gov.ml/documentation/kidal.pdf|publisher=République de Mali: Institut National de la Statistique|title=Resultats Provisoires RGPH 2009 (Région de Kidal)|language=French|access-date=2012-05-02|archive-date=2012-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727120249/http://instat.gov.ml/documentation/kidal.pdf|url-status=live}}.

|population_note =

|population_total = 2,300

|population_density_km2 = auto

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|population_blank1_title = Ethnicities

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|timezone = WAT

|utc_offset = +1

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|coordinates = {{coord|19|56|55|N|2|58|04|E|region:ML|display=inline,title}}

|elevation_footnotes =

|elevation_m = 618

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}}

Tinzaouaten (var. Tinzawatene and Tin-Zaouatene; {{langx|ar|تين ظواتين}}) is a Saharan rural commune in the far northeast of Mali on the Algerian border.

Geography

The commune is in the Abeïbara Cercle of the Kidal Region. It included a stop on a trans-Saharan trade route and a military post on the frontier under the French colonial regime. In 2009 the 8,000 square kilometer commune had a population of 2,300, most of whom are nomadic Tuareg. The Algerian settlement of Tin Zaoutine is on the Algerian side of the border.:fr:Tinzaouten

Recent history

In 2019, Tinzaouaten was the headquarters of the Al-Qaeda-associated terrorist group Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin.{{cite web|url=https://www.ifri.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/pellerin_armed_violence_sahara_2020_okes.pdf|title=Armed violence in the Sahara|first=Mathieu|last=Pellerin|date=November 2019|publisher=IFRI|access-date=2020-06-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523113208/https://www.ifri.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/pellerin_armed_violence_sahara_2020_okes.pdf|archive-date=2020-05-23|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Battle of Tinzaouaten (2024)}}

On July 25, 2024, Tuareg rebels of CSP-DPA ambushed a convoy of FAMA and Russian Wagner mercenaries in Tinzaouaten, beginning a 2-day battle. Over the course of the battle a sandstorm formed, forcing both sides to a temporary pause in fighting until July 26.{{cite web |date=2024-07-25 |last=Bridger |first=Bianca |url=https://theatlasnews.co/latest/2024/07/25/tuareg-rebels-ambush-malian-russian-forces-near-algerian-border| title=Tuareg rebels ambush Malian and Russian forces near the Algerian border |work=Atlas News |access-date=2024-07-27}} The battle ended on July 27 resulting in the loss of several FAMA armored vehicles, a FAMA helicopter and the claimed deaths of 10 FAMA soldiers, up to 25-80+ Wagner Group mercenaries and 20 CSP-DPA soldiers.{{cite web |date=2024-07-27 |title=Mali rebels say they killed and injured dozens of soldiers, Wagner mercenaries in fighting |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/mali-rebels-say-they-killed-injured-dozens-soldiers-wagner-mercenaries-fighting-2024-07-27/ |work=Reuters |location=Bamako |access-date=2024-07-27}}

References

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