Dirkou

Region

Dirkou is a rural municipality in the department of Bilma in Niger.

Geography

Dirkou is located in the northeast of the country in Kaouar valley in the desert Ténéré. The rural municipality is bordered on the east by the neighboring country Chad. The neighboring communities in Niger are Bilma, Fachi and N'Gourti in the south, the west and Iférouane Djado in the north. The municipality is divided into two districts, seven administrative villages, three traditional villages and four hamlets. In the administrative village Dirkou, an oasis and capital of the rural community, lives almost half of the population. The other administrative villages are Achinouma, Anney, ARGUI, Bezza, Chimoundour and Emtilhoumal. The Neighborhoods hot Gadarma and Tchdrey et Maya, the traditional villages Latey, Tchidirissou and Tchouage and the hamlets Barara, Djawaz, Kerdema and Youzeyi.

Dirkou is an important milestone for immigrants on the desert route from Black Africa to Europe. The Italian journalist Fabrizio Gatti records in his book Bilal after the journey of immigrants from Africa to Europe. He describes Dirkou as a place where the actual desert route begins where smugglers of people and goods such as cocaine have outposts, and last but not least where many of the refugees stranded, stuck due to lack of money and need to hire slave -like.

Population

At the 2001 census Dirkou had 9,437 inhabitants. For the year 2010 14.297 inhabitants were calculated. In the township the Tubu language Tedaga is disseminated, directly north of Bilma also Libyan Arabic.

Economy and infrastructure

In Dirkou the northern slopes of Agadez, which passes the fountain of Achegour, an important "filling station " at the Bornustraße for the salt caravans towards Seguedine ends. The small Oasenort houses a garrison of the Nigerien military. The local market is especially for trade with dates of importance. In Dirkou a civilian airport is paved with start and runway, the Dirkou Airport ( ICAO code: DRZD ).