** Barouéli** is a town and commune and seat of the Cercle of** Barouéli** in the Ségou Region of southern-central Mali. In 1998 the commune had a population of 32,739.

Administration

Barouéli is directly south of Ségou Cercle, and directly north of Koulikoro Cercle. The Commune of Barouéli is composed of the town of Barouéli and forty surrounding villages, with an estimated population of 47000 in 2001 (15000 in Barouéli proper). The Cercle of Barouéli contains the Communes of Barouéli, Boidié, Dougoufié, Guendo, Kalaké, Konobougou, N’Gassola, Sanando, Somo, Tamani and Tesserla.

History

Baroueli was founded as a trading center by the Marka people in the 19th century. Once located in the center of the Bambara Empire, the area's population today is overwhelmingly Bambara. The town's football club AS Bakaridjan de Barouéli, plays in the top level Malien Premiere Division.

Environmental resources

It contains the forests of Barouéli, Tamani, and Boidié, which have come under pressure from overexploitation.

Sister city

Vannes, France