Taoudénit Region

Taoudénit Region is a region of Mali that was legislatively created in 2012 from the northern part of Timbuktu Cercle in Tombouctou Region. Actual implementation began on 19 January 2016 with the appointment of its first governor, and its transitional council members were appointed in October 2016. It is divided into six cercles: Achouratt, Al-Ourche, Araouane, Boudje-Beha, Foum-Alba and Taoudénit. The capital is meant to be at Taoudénit, although the government is based in Timbuktu because Taoudénit lacks infrastructure. With 100,358 residents in 2022 it is the second least populated region of Mali, and it has the lowest total fertility rate in the country at 3.5 births per woman. It is the only predominantly Arab region of Mali, with Arabs and Moors making up 82.14 percent of the population in 2022, and 99.81 percent of residents are Muslim.