Happy TravellerWelcome to Agadez, the fifth largest city in Niger and the capital of Agadez Region. Located in the Sahara desert, Agadez is also the capital of Aïr, one of the traditional Tuareg–Berber federations. The city has a population of 110,497 based on the 2012 census and is known for its rich history, culture, and tourism.
Agadez was founded before the 14th century and gradually became the most important city of the Tuareg people, supplanting Assodé. The city still sees the arrival of caravans, bringing salt from Bilma. In 1449, Agadez became a sultanate, but was later conquered by the Songhai Empire in 1515, remaining a part of that empire until 1591. At this point, the city had a population of around 30,000 people and was a key passage for the medieval caravans trading between the West African cities of Kano and Timbuktu, and the North African oases of Ghat, Ghadames, and Tripoli, on the Mediterranean shore.
Today, Agadez flourishes as a market town and as a center for the transportation of the uranium mined in the surrounding area. Notable buildings in the city include the Agadez Grand Mosque, the Kaocen Palace (now a hotel), and the Agadez Sultans Palace. The city is also known for its camel market and its silver and leatherwork. Some well-known musicians from the town include Tuareg guitar player Bombino and his band Group Bombino, and Group Inerane. Mdou Moctars film, Akounak Teggdalit Taha Tazoughai, is set and filmed on location in Agadez.
Agadez has a hot desert climate and is divided into several neighborhoods, including Nasarawa, near the Agadez Mosque, Sabon Gari, Bariki, Dag Manet, and Azin.
Despite its rich history and culture, Agadez has faced challenges in recent years. As a result of the Second Tuareg Rebellion, sporadic violence and the displacement of thousands of people affected the Agadez area from late 2007 into 2009. All of northern Niger was placed on the United States State Department list of areas which are unsafe for travel by United States citizens, covering late 2007 to the end of 2008. Tourist flights to Agadez were suspended by European airlines for the 2007–2008 tourist season (September – March). The burgeoning tourist industry, which prior to 2007 had surpassed that of Niamey and the rest of the nation, essentially came to an end. The entire region was placed under a Nigerien government State of Exception (limiting travel, gatherings, political activities, etc.) in October 2007, renewed through early 2009. Roads to and from Agadez were reported to have been mined, and the government closed the area to international journalists and aid organizations. An unknown number (reported as several thousands) of internally displaced people converged on the city as a result of the unrest.
In the 2010s, Agadez became a major transit town for West African migrants heading to Libya and then on to Europe. Since Agadez is the final stop before passing through the long trek across the Sahara towards the Libyan coast. Crackdowns in 2016 slowed the flow of migrants, but recent Displacement Tracking Matrix data showed a daily average of 1,212 individuals crossing at six monitored points in Niger, many of whom would have been coming through Agadez. The city now hosts hundreds of migrants living in small houses on the outskirts of the city before moving on to Libya.
Despite these challenges, Agadez remains a unique and fascinating destination for travelers looking to explore the rich history and culture of the Tuareg people and the Sahara desert. Come and discover the wonders of Agadez for yourself!
