Kolda

---

title: "Kolda" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["kolda", "populated-places-in-kolda-region", "regional-capitals-in-senegal", "casamance-river", "communes-of-senegal"] topic_path: "general/kolda" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolda" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
official_name	Kolda
other_name	كولدا
native_name
settlement_type	City and commune
total_type	City and commune
image_skyline	File:Kolda-bradybd.jpg
imagesize	250
image_caption	Kolda town centre market
image_map
mapsize	250px
dot_x
pushpin_map	Senegal
pushpin_label_position
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_name
subdivision_type1	Region
subdivision_name1	Kolda
subdivision_type2	Department
subdivision_name2	Kolda
leader_title	Mayor
leader_name	Mame Boye Diao
leader_title1
established_title
unit_pref
area_footnotes
area_total_km2	39.24
area_land_km2
population_as_of	2023 census
population_footnotes
population_total	103574
population_density_km2	auto
timezone	GMT
utc_offset	+0
coordinates
elevation_footnotes
elevation_m	34
elevation_ft	100
postal_code_type
::

|official_name = Kolda |other_name = كولدا |native_name =
|nickname = |settlement_type = City and commune |total_type = City and commune |motto = |image_skyline = File:Kolda-bradybd.jpg |imagesize = 250 |image_caption = Kolda town centre market |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |image_blank_emblem = |blank_emblem_type = |blank_emblem_size = |image_map = |mapsize = 250px |map_caption = |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |image_dot_map = |dot_mapsize = |dot_map_caption = |dot_x = |dot_y = |pushpin_map =Senegal |pushpin_label_position = |pushpin_map_caption = |pushpin_mapsize = |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = |subdivision_type1 = Region |subdivision_name1 = Kolda |subdivision_type2 = Department |subdivision_name2 = Kolda |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = Mayor |leader_name = Mame Boye Diao |leader_title1 =
|leader_name1 = |established_title =
|established_date = |area_magnitude = |unit_pref = |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = 39.24 |area_land_km2 = |area_water_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = |population_as_of = 2023 census |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total = 103574 |population_density_km2 = auto |population_density_sq_mi = |timezone = GMT |utc_offset = +0 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coordinates = |elevation_footnotes =
|elevation_m = 34 |elevation_ft = 100 |postal_code_type =
|postal_code = |area_code = |website = |footnotes = Kolda (; Wolof: Koldaa) is a city and urban commune located in southern Senegal. It is the capital city of Kolda Region and Kolda Department, a region known historically and popularly as Haute Casamance.

History

The name Kolda derives from the name of the city's founder Koly Dado who first established a settlement near the banks of the Casamance River.

Administration

Kolda is the chief city of Kolda Department and of the Kolda Region.

Geography

The city is located on National Road 6, also called the "southern route" due to the fact that it goes from Dakar to Ziguinchor through Tambacounda, Vélingara and Kolda. Dakar, the capital city of Sénégal, is located 670 kilometers from Kolda.

Local administrative districts include Bantanguel, Doumassou, Ndiobène, Sarè Moussa, Gadapara, Sarè Kemo, Sinthiang Tountouroung, Sinthiang Idriss, Escale, Sikilo, and Faraba. Kolda is the main capital of the region incorporating the two departments of Velingara and Fafacourou.

Climate

Kolda has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw) with two distinct seasons. The wet season lasts for five months, from June through October, while the dry season begins in November and ends in May.

Temperatures are hot to sweltering throughout the year. The annual average temperature is 28.7 °C, with a maximum of 32.5 °C in May and a minimum of 24.8 °C in December. Afternoons in the latter half of the dry season are extremely hot, averaging over 40 °C from March to May. However, in the middle of the dry season mornings are distinctly comfortable at around 15 °C.

| width = auto | metric first = yes | single line = yes | location = Kolda (1991–2020) | Jan high C = 35.5 | Feb high C = 38.0 | Mar high C = 40.4 | Apr high C = 41.5 | May high C = 40.8 | Jun high C = 37.2 | Jul high C = 33.4 | Aug high C = 32.3 | Sep high C = 32.9 | Oct high C = 34.5 | Nov high C = 35.7 | Dec high C = 35.0 | year high C = 36.4

| Jan low C = 14.5 | Feb low C = 17.1 | Mar low C = 20.2 | Apr low C = 22.5 | May low C = 24.2 | Jun low C = 24.8 | Jul low C = 24.0 | Aug low C = 23.6 | Sep low C = 23.2 | Oct low C = 23.2 | Nov low C = 18.8 | Dec low C = 14.6 | year low C = 20.9 | rain colour = green | Jan rain mm = 0.1 | Feb rain mm = 0.1 | Mar rain mm = 0.0 | Apr rain mm = 0.1 | May rain mm = 19.0 | Jun rain mm = 121.5 | Jul rain mm = 248.9 | Aug rain mm = 318.4 | Sep rain mm = 265.4 | Oct rain mm = 81.7 | Nov rain mm = 2.6 | Dec rain mm = 0.0 | year rain mm = 1057.8 | unit rain days = 1.0 mm | Jan rain days = 0.0 | Feb rain days = 0.0 | Mar rain days = 0.0 | Apr rain days = 0.0 | May rain days = 1.3 | Jun rain days = 7.4 | Jul rain days = 14.2 | Aug rain days = 16.9 | Sep rain days = 16.0 | Oct rain days = 6.1 | Nov rain days = 0.3 | Dec rain days = 0.0 | year rain days = 62.2 | Jan sun =254.2 | Feb sun =246.4 | Mar sun =269.7 | Apr sun =270.0 | May sun =275.9 | Jun sun =237.0 | Jul sun =210.8 | Aug sun =192.2 | Sep sun =210.0 | Oct sun =238.7 | Nov sun =246.0 | Dec sun =235.6 | year sun = | Jand sun =8.2 | Febd sun =8.8 | Mard sun =8.7 | Aprd sun =9.0 | Mayd sun =8.9 | Jund sun =7.9 | Juld sun =6.8 | Augd sun =6.2 | Sepd sun =7.0 | Octd sun =7.7 | Novd sun =8.2 | Decd sun =7.6 | yeard sun =

| source = NOAA{{cite web |url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Senegal/CSV/Kolda_61698.csv |title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Kolda |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date =9 January 2024}} (sun 1961-1990)

Demographics

As of 2002, Kolda's population was 53,921. In 2007, official estimations, numbered the population at 62,258 inhabitants. The majority population is members of the Fula ethnic group. Mandinke and Jola ethnic groups are also present.

Economy

A Center of Zootechniques Research (CRZ) was established in Kolda in 1972. Major crops include cotton, cereals like miley, fonio, peanut and another vegetables. Kolda also has major sheep, cattle, and dairy production. Kolda is abundant in fruits such as mangoes, oranges, and acajou nuts.

Notables

• Tapa Diao, cultural and political leader, former senator of Kolda in the National Assembly
• Cherif Mohamed Aly Aidara, Islamic religious leader and founder of international NGO Mozdahir (born in Darou Hidjiratou)
• Sidney Toure, poet, actor, activist
• Moriba Pascal Doumbia, educator
• El Hadj Omar Fall, educator
• Mère Henry Ronk (Catholic Mission), caregiver
• Ablaye Diallo (Zal), footballer
• Massamba Sambou, football player
• , poet
• Ablaye Cissoko, Singer, Musician
• General
• Sada Kane, journalist
• Barou Balde, Adjunct Mayor
• Bécaye Diop, Minister of State, Minister of the Armed Forces, and Mayor of Kolda

References

References

1. [https://www.citypopulation.de/en/senegal/mun/admin/kolda/SN07015100__kolda/ Citypopulation.de] Population and area of Kolda Commune
3. "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1961-1990: Kolda". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
4. Leichtman, Mara A. 2015. ''Shi'i Cosmopolitanisms in Africa: Lebanese Migration and Religious Conversion in Senegal''. Indiana University Press.

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