Dioïla Region
Region in Mali
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dioïla Region is an administrative region in southern Mali. It was created from the division of the former Koulikoro Region in 2023 and has its capital in the town of Dioïla. The region lies in the southern interior of the country, between Bamako, Koulikoro and the agricultural areas of southern Mali.
Dioïla | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates: 12.483333°N 6.800000°W | |
| Country | Mali |
| Capital | Dioïla |
| Area | |
• Total | 12,330 km2 (4,760 sq mi) |
| Population (2023) | |
• Total | 666,756 |
| ISO 3166 code | ML |
Geography
Dioïla Region is located in south-western Mali and covers an area of 12,330 km², corresponding to just under 1% of the national territory.[1] It borders several Malian regions, including Koulikoro, Bougouni, Sikasso, San and Ségou. The area lies mainly in the Sudanian savanna and receives more rainfall than the northern Sahelian regions. The landscape is characterised by savannas, farmland and smaller river systems. The region lies within the drainage basin of the Niger River.
History
The area of present-day Dioïla Region long belonged to Koulikoro Region after Mali’s independence. The former Dioïla Cercle formed the south-eastern part of that region. The creation of a separate Dioïla Region had already been envisaged in 2012. Law No. 2023-006 of 13 March 2023 on the creation of new administrative regions in the Republic of Mali established Dioïla as a separate region.[2]
Historically, Dioïla belongs to the southern Mandé and Bambara cultural area. The population traditionally lived mainly from agriculture, livestock herding and local trade.
Administrative divisions
Population
In 2023, the population was estimated at 666,756.[1] The population is predominantly rural, Animism persisted in this area well into the 20th century. Dioïla is home to primarily Bambara farmers, and formed part of the pre-colonial Segou Empire. There are also populations of Muslim Fula, Soninke, Malinke and Dogon.[5]
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 332,972 |
| 2009 | 488,937 |
| 2023 | 666,756 |
- Bambara (89.85%)
- Fula (5.82%)
- Dogon (1.31%)
- Maraka / Soninké (0.93%)
- Other Malian (1.99%)
- Other African (0.01%)
- Other foreign (0.09%)
Economy
The economy of Dioïla Region is based mainly on agriculture, which is favoured by the region’s comparatively higher rainfall.