GAO

historically Kawkaw town and capital of Gao rgion, situated on the Niger River at the southern edge of the Sahara (desert) in eastern Mali, West Africa. Founded by fishermen in the 7th century AD, it is one of the oldest trading centres in West Africa. Gao became the capital of the Songhai Empire in the early 11th century. Under Songhai rule, the town thrived as a major trans-Saharan trading centre for gold, copper, slaves, and salt. The rulers of the Kingdom of Mali annexed Gao in 1325, but the Songhai people regained control of it some 40 years later. The Moroccans ended Songhai rule over Gao permanently in 1591, and the town's importance as a commercial centre declined thereafter. Today Gao serves as a terminus for large steamers emanating from Mopti and Koulikoro. A road crossing the Sahara links the town with Algeria, and other roads connect Gao with the Malian towns of Timbuktu and Mopti. Gao rgion borders the countries of Algeria on the northeast, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) on the south, and Timbuktu rgion on the west. Most of Gao rgion's population live near the banks of the Niger River, where irrigation permits the growing of wheat, rice, and sorghum. The nomadic Tuareg of the Sahara and the Songhai of the Niger Valley constitute Gao's main inhabitants. Phosphate is mined in the Tilemsi area north of Gao town. Pop. (1976) town, 36,714; (1980 est.) rgion, 409,315.