Paoskoto

Paoskoto
Rural commune and village
Paoskoto
Coordinates: 13°47′N 15°49′W / 13.783°N 15.817°W / 13.783; -15.817
Country	Senegal
Region	Kaffrine Region
Department	Nioro du Rip Department
Arrondissement	Paoskoto Arrondissement
Population
• Total	43,460
Time zone	UTC+0 (GMT)

Paoskoto (often Paoscoto or Paos Koto) is a village and rural commune in Paoskoto Arrondissement in the Nioro du Rip Department of the Kaolack Region of Senegal, located near the border with the Gambia.

On 30 November 1865, Maba Diakhou Bâ battled against Émile Pinet-Laprade at the Battle of Paoskoto, in a notable historical battle between the valiant soldiers of the Nioro Du Rip Kingdom against the French colonizers. The battle was a humiliating defeat for the french as they were ambushed and suffered considerable losses compared to the other side. the french colonizers, led by Émile Pinet-Laprade, then retreated to Djoloff to regroup. This epic battle is largely celebrated even today in Senegal.

The nearest localities are Keur Oumar Tounkara, Dafar, Keur Gaye Hamdalaye, Mbiteyene, Tayyiba Niassène, Keur bidja Uri Keur Ali Gueye, Nioro du Rip and Diamaguene.

According to PEPAM (Programme d'eau potable et d'assainissement du Millénaire) the rural commune of Paoskoto has a population 43,460 and 4,061 households. The population of the village of Paoskoto amounts to 2,411 inhabitants in 225 households. The Wolof and Fulani tribes form the majority.

• (in French) A. K. Mbaye, L’épopée de Maba Diakhou Ba du Rip, mémoire de maîtrise, Dakar, Faculté des Lettres et Sciences humaines, Département de Lettres modernes, 1996
• (in French) Kélétigui S. Keita, Maba Diakhou Ba dans le Rip et le Saloum (1861-1867), Dakar, Université de Dakar, 1970, 165 p. (Mémoire de Maîtrise)

• (in French) Paoskoto at PEPAM