Taoudeni is a locality of the north of the Mali located about 750 km at north of Tombouctou and in the southern part of the desert algéro-Malian of the Tanezrouft, which is the southernmost part of the the Sahara.

Taoudeni is not a city strictly speaking, and currently do not remain that the ruins of old the abandoned Bagne a few years ago. For a long time this zone was prohibited.

Nowadays one counts approximately a hundred operating workers the salt gem levelling in this zone made up of old sea-beds. The majority of them work to refund debts contracted near the caravans. " peines" go a few months has plusieures years and in spite of terrible work conditions certain minors remain on the spot and work the mine to nourish their family, while being obliged to pass by the azalaï to sell salt, azalaï which do not hesitate to keep the profits generated by the fluctuations of the court of salt and to make pay the voyages (approximately 3 plates)

Living conditions of the minors:

They are entirely dependant on the caravans to which they exchange food, water, fuel… against salt (1 liter of oil for 3 plates for example, whereas a minor must extract at least 12 plates per day to refund his debts). The minors work without protective gears, often barefeet, with identical rudimentary tools has those employed since centuries. The residences are built using ground bricks on the spot by the minors.

It is at this place that one makes the famous rock salt plates, which make the reputation of this place. This salt was transported in most of the West Africa, by caravans of Dromadaire S, called improperly in the Sahara Chameau X. These caravans as well as forwardings which they form are called Azalaï in language Tamasheq. The caravans are made of a hundred or more dromedaries, carried out by the chief of clan. The minors can travel with Azalaï with the proviso of only managing. The caravaneers move only thanks to the wind, the dunes and stars and traverse approximately 40km in 10:00 per days, moreover the loading and the unloading of the dromedaries takes plusieures hours each time. More and more this transport is done now in the truck 4x4.

Recent prospections, highlighted oil layers. They are probably the same layers as those discovered in Mauritania, not far from the zone of Taoudeni. Licenses of Prospection S and exploitations were recently delivered. A refitting of the tracks of what remains airport is being studied to allow the development of this activity.