Iferouane

Region

Iferouane (also: Iférouane, Iférouane ) is a rural municipality and the capital of the eponymous department Iférouane in Niger.

Geography

The municipality is divided into three administrative villages, two traditional villages, four bearing and 22 water points. The main town of the rural community is the administrative village Iferouane. Iferouane is the main administrative center of the Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserve, the 77,000 km ² the largest protected area in Africa.

Iferouane is the main oasis in the northwestern part of the Aïr Mountains. The village is situated in Irhazar Valley (also: Ighazar Valley ). The area is very mountainous and rough. Quartz, granite and gneiss rocks dominate the area. In most cases, they are scattered loose, occasionally in large block formations. The small park is situated at the foot of up to 1988 meters high Tamgak massif ( a circular of granite pluton and part of the large Aïr Mountains ) and is dominated by mud houses, tents and Matt gardens. Belongs to this community the significant especially in the 19th century settlement Tintellust. The neighboring municipalities are Iferouanes Gougaram in the north, Djado, Dirkou and Fachi in the east, the south and Timia Dannet in the West.

History

As founders of the town make Kel- Ferwan - Tuareg, who are now migrated to the area of ​​Agadez apply. The name of the oasis town is derived from the Tamascheq and means in the language of the Tuareg located there: " the fields".

1899 spent a French military expedition that Foureau -Lamy Mission, several months Iferouane. In February of that year should here be drawn additional pack animals so the arduous onward journey to Agadez could be disputed. It was only much later, in June, the expedition could actually break up. Tuareg nomads had the task of the expedition torpedoed by a variety of attacks, so that a departure was not thinking. In addition, the promised pack animals have not been delivered, so that the expedition leader had to stock up on your own with supplies. At the same time many of the camels brought died. Under difficult conditions, the expedition was able to break in June. During the French colonial period Iferouane had the function of the northernmost military post in Niger.

1964 was divided into seven administrative reform Niger departments, the predecessor of the later regions, and 32 arrondissements, the predecessor of the later departments. Iferouane was added to the newly created district Agadez, received but - as Ingall - the status of an administrative post ( poste administratif ) within the territory of the arrondissement. Administrative posts were special territorial units one level below arrondissements that were regarded as a kind of precursor to a later conversion into a separate district. The area of ​​the arrondissements of Agadez in 1969 divided between the arrondissements Arlit and Tchirozérine. Iferouane was added to the district of Arlit. In 1998, the former arrondissements of Niger were converted into departments.

During the third Tuareg rebellion (2007-2009) Iferouane opening scene of the rebellion was the first attacks of the MNJ. Numerous clashes between rebels and government troops shook the region in and around Iferouane. In October 2007, the President of SOS Iférouane Initiative announced that the insurgency weeks of starvation in the village would have triggered since the supply routes were cut off. In addition, malaria and diarrhea were massively occurred. Water shortage and harassment by the army forces aggravated the situation even more. In November 2008, could be established that the city was empty and no one lived there anymore. An exodus of inhabitants by Arlit and Agadez was responsible. In 2009 most of the inhabitants, however, were returned. Since then, the damaged infrastructure to be restructured and agriculture reactivated. Since 2011 part of the rural community not to Arlit Department, but for the newly created Department Iférouane. The previous administrative posts was raised to the chief town of the department.

Population

1964 about 10,000 people lived in the area around Iferouane. At the 2001 census Iferouane had 8108 inhabitants, of whom 1918 in the administrative village Iferouane. For 2010, a total of 12,624 residents were calculated. In the township the Tamascheq - Tayart variety is spoken.

Culture and sights

Visit the prehistoric finds in the Aïr are usually planned by Iferouane from. North of the settlement are Neolithic rock paintings. Giraffes, cattle and antelopes decorate clearly boulders and noses. All the way up to 90 km away Tezirek you always discovering rock paintings.

In Iferouane found from 2001 to 2006 annually between December 27 to 29, the Aïr Festival held until it moved to Tchirozérine. The region thus tries to stand up for tourism culture. The Tuareg try the occasion of this feast useful and Social link, because there are problems and possible assistance to the Tuareg discussed. In addition, competitions are held. So prices are up for grabs for the best Tagelmust that best harnessed camel, the most beautiful traditional costume and other competitive items. Dance, poetry, music and colorful presentations of various hard delegations round off the three -day festival.

Economy and infrastructure

About unpaved roads and tracks is an oasis following the link road between Arlit and Agadez, the economic center in the traditional trade and craft as well as a meeting place in the caravan trade of the remote Saharan peoples and tribes. In Iferouane a civilian airport located with unpaved airstrip, the Iferouane Airport ( ICAO code: DRZI ). In the capital there is a local citizen radio (radio communautaire).

Personalities

• Brigi Rafini (* 1953), politician, Prime Minister of Niger