Koulikoro, a town and urban commune in Mali, serves as the capital of the Koulikoro Region. Situated 59 kilometers northeast of Bamako on the Niger River's banks, it marks the endpoint of the Dakar-Niger Railway, a key transport link since 1904. From August to November, the river becomes navigable downstream, facilitating trade to cities like Ségou and Timbuktu, though upstream travel is blocked by the Sotuba Rapids. The town is also known for its prison, which holds convicted participants in the Rwandan genocide.