cercle
government unit
Quick Summary
A cercle is a French administrative district, particularly one used in a French colony. In Mali, the country is divided into eight regions and the district of Bamako. Each region is further subdivided into cercles, which are then divided into arrondissements.12
The cercles serve as centers for essential government services, including health, military, police, and judicial functions. The arrondissement is the most basic administrative unit, typically containing a school and a dispensary, and is made up of several villages.2
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