Sankarani River, tributary of the Niger River, in western Africa. It is formed by intermittent streams in the southern outliers of the Fouta Djallon region of Guinea and meanders for 330 miles (530 km) northeast to meet the Niger on its right bank below Kolé, Mali. The Sélingué dam, which is located on the Sankarani, began operations in 1980 and is one of Mali’s most important energy sources.