| Ag |
Son of |
| Amenokal |
Leader of the ettabal, executive tribal authority |
| Azawad |
The term with which autonomy/independence factions of the 2012 rebellion refer to the northern regions of Mali. Its cultural existence was recognised in the 2015 Algiers Agreement |
| Bella |
Tuareg caste of former slaves |
| Canton |
Sedentary administrative district at municipal level |
| Commune |
Administrative district at municipal level – an umbrella term for cantons (sedentary districts) and groupements (nomadic districts) |
| Confederation |
Largest unit of Tuareg political organisation consisting of various ettabal |
| Cyrenaica |
The region encompassing the east of modern-day Libya |
| Ettabal |
Group of Tuareg clans that form a political unit under the leadership of one clan. Also called a federation |
| Federation |
Group of Tuareg clans that form a political unit under the leadership of one clan. Also called an ettabal |
| Fezzan |
The region encompassing the south-west of modern-day Libya |
| Fraction |
Nomadic administrative district at sub-municipal level |
| Garso |
Fulani scouts who chart the way for herders, also leading them away from conflicts with other herders or with farmers |
| Groupement |
Nomadic administrative district at municipal level |
| Ifoghas |
Noble Kel Adagh clan (Kidal region) |
| Imghad |
Low-level Kel Adagh caste historically composed of craftsmen (Kidal region) |
| Kel Adagh |
Main Tuareg confederation in the Kidal region |
| Kel Ahaggar |
Tuareg confederation predominantly based in Algeria |
| Kel Ajjer |
Main Tuareg confederation in southern Libya, with the municipality of Ghat being their historical stronghold |
| Mokhtar |
A state-appointed local governance intermediary between local communities and the municipal council in Libyan municipalities |
| Muezzin |
A religious authority that typically leads the call to prayer in a mosque |
| Qadi |
A highly respected traditional religious figure in reconciliation and justice, administering verdicts on the basis of Islamic law |
| Quartier |
Urban administrative district at sub-municipal level |
| Rugga |
Fulani peace brokers who travel extensively to solve conflicts among Fulani herders |
| Tribu |
Nomadic administrative district at the municipal level, either at sub-municipal level (contemporary Niger) or at municipal level (colonial Mali) |
| Tripolitania |
The region encompassing the north-west of modern-day Libya, including the capital Tripoli |
| Village |
Rural administrative district at sub-municipal level |