KOUTIALA

'Koutiala' is a city in Mali in the administrative region of Sikasso. Koutiala serves as the capital of its administrative Cercle, home to 355,289 people. As of 2005, Koutiala has an estimated 96,600 residents and an area of 18 000 Km². The city is located at 12°23'00" North, 5°28'00" West, 140 km north of the city of Sikasso.
Sometimes called "the white gold capital" for its cotton production, Koutiala is the second most industrial city in Mali, hosting, among others, the ''Compagnie malienne pour le développement du textile'' (CMDT) and the ''Huilerie cotonnière du Malo'' (HUICOMA).
Situated in Minianka country, Koutiala was founded in the 16th century by members of the Coulibaly family from the Bambara kingdom of Segou.
Koutiala's sister city is Alençon, France.
The Cercle of Koutiala includes 36 communes (Diedougou, Diouradougou Kafo, Fagui, Fakolo, Gouadji Kao, Gouadji Soukouna, Kafo Faboli, Kapala, Karagouana Mallé, Koloniké, Konina, Koningué, Konseguela, koromo, Kouniana, Koutiala, Logouana, M Pessoba, Miena, N Golonianasso, N Goutjina, Nafanga, Nampé, Niantaga, Sincina, Sinkolo, Songo-Doubacoré, Songoua, Sorobasso, Tao, Yognogo, Zamfigué, Zangasso, Zanina, Zebala), with a total population of 355,289.

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★ This article is based on a translation of the from the French Wikipedia, retrieved on June 27 2005.