Gao Region
Gao is a region in northeastern Mali. The capital city is Gao.
Geography
The region is bordered to the north by Kidal Region, to the west by Tombouctou Region and Taoudénit Region, to the east by the Ménaka Region, and most of the south by Niger, sharing a portion of the southern border with Burkina Faso.Demographics
Common ethnicities in the Gao Region include the Songhai, Bozo, Tuareg, Bambara, and Kounta. The towns include Gao, Bourem, and Bamba.The Gao Region is part of Mali, the northern part that was separated and declared independent by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad during the Tuareg rebellion of 2012. After the 1st Battle of Gao, the MNLA lost control to Islamist militias. Several other battles took place during the war, particularly in Gao.
Administrative subdivisions
For administrative purposes, the Gao Region is divided into three cercles:| Cercle name | Area | Population Census 1998 | Population Census 2009 |
| Ansongo | 23,614 | 82,398 | 132,205 |
| Bourem | 43,000 | 80,667 | 115,958 |
| Gao | 31,250 | 143,300 | 239,853 |