Abalak

Region

Abalak ( other names and spellings: Ebaka, IBEKA, Abalagh ) is a town and the capital of the eponymous department Abalak in Niger.

Geography

Abalak is located 409 meters above sea level on the edge of the north-eastern Niger Tenere Desert. The neighboring municipalities are Tassara the northwest, Ingall in the northeast, Tamaya in the southeast, Akoubounou in the south, Kao in the southwest and Tchintabaraden in the West. The city is divided into six districts, 40 administrative villages, three hamlets, 24 bearings and seven water points. The six districts are Administratif, Amanokal, Azamor, Boukoki, Nouveau Quartier Arabe and Tagalat.

Population

At the 2001 census Abalak had 24 427 inhabitants. For 2010 32.846 inhabitants were calculated. The population consists mainly of Hausa, Tuareg and Arabs. The Hausa are predominantly in agriculture, Tuareg and Arabs mostly engaged in trade. Abalak was since 1985 a center of the movement for autonomy of the Tuareg.

Culture and sights

Every October, a festival of ranchers in Abalak is organized.

Economy and infrastructure

The community is predominantly in an area that is operated in the pastoral industry. In the south of the zone of Agropastoralismus begins. In the farming town are the Nigerien army and military facilities. Caused by long drought is partly the character of a refugee camp. The weekly market of Abalak was founded in 1975. Market day is Thursday. Besides camels, sheep and goats goods for the nomadic life in the desert are traded. Abalak is the seat of the Tribunal d' Instance, one of the nation's 30 civil courts, which is below the ten civil courts of first instance (Tribunal de Grande Instance ) are. The city is located on the National Road 25, which connects the city to the major cities of Agadez and Tahoua.