Ségou — City of Mali
Ségou, Mali's fifth-largest city, sits roughly 235 km northeast of Bamako on the Niger River. Population, administrative status, and its ties to the capital.
**Ségou** is one of Mali's most historically significant towns, located roughly **235 km northeast of Bamako**, on the right bank of the Niger River.
## A town and a region in its own right
Ségou is both an urban commune and the capital of the **Ségou cercle** and the **Ségou region**. According to the 2009 census, it had **130,690 residents**, making it Mali's fifth-largest town by population. Once the capital of the Bambara kingdom of Ségou, the town retains significant architectural and historical heritage, notably around its former royal palace.
## Connection to Bamako
Ségou is linked to Bamako by national road, about 235 km away, a route commonly traveled by travelers and traders moving between the two cities. That relative proximity makes it a frequent destination for Bamako residents, whether for tourism, business, or cultural events — the town hosts, among other things, the annual **Festival sur le Niger**, one of the country's largest cultural gatherings.
## A city on the Niger River
Like Bamako, Ségou grew up along the Niger River, which has historically shaped its economy (fishing, irrigated farming, river trade) and its urban layout. This geographic and cultural continuity with the capital explains the close economic and cultural ties between the two cities.
Sources: [Wikipedia — Ségou](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segu,_Mali), [Wikipedia — Ségou Region](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A9gou_Region)