Kidal Region is the eighth administrative region of
Mali, covering 151,450 km
2. This area was formerly part of
Gao Region, but was created as a separate region in 1991. It is located in the north of the country, within the territory which the
National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad proclaimed to be the independent nation-state of
Azawad on 6 April 2012. This independence has not been recognized by any country or international organization. It was under the control of different armed movements such as the
Ansar Dine and MNLA until January 2013, when French forces liberated the region. The Region's administrative capital is the town of
Kidal.