Douentza is a town and urban commune in the Mopti Region of southern Mali. The town is the administrative center of the Douentza Cercle. On 5 April 2012, it was captured by the Tuareg rebels of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA). Describing the town as the "frontier" of their new nation, the MNLA declared an end to their offensive. The following day, the group officially declared the independence of Azawad from Mali.