250,000 in Mali (1991). Population total all countries: 281,200.
Widespread northeast: Tombouctou, Kidal, and Gao regions; some in Mopti region: Youvarou circle.
5 (Developing). Recognized language (1982, Decree No. 159 of 19 July, Article 1).
Tadhaq (Kidal), Timbuktu (Tanaslamt, Tombouctou). May be 2 separate languages. A member of macrolanguage Tamashek [tmh].
The Bellah were formerly under the Tamasheq economically. Muslim.