Douentza (Fulfulde: Duwayⁿsa[3]) is a town and urban commune in the Mopti Region of central Mali.

[3] The area around Douentza was densely populated and the site of industrial-scale iron during the height of the Wagadou Empire between approximately 700 and 1200 CE.

[4] Douentza is the leading town in the historic region of Haayre (or Hayre), a Fulbe-led kingdom dating to the 19th century.

[6] The French moved into the area in the last decade of the 19th century, in part assimilating the previous political entities as elements of so-called strategy of Indirect rule.

A MOJWA spokesman said that the group had had an agreement with the Ganda Iso, but had decided to occupy the town when the militia appeared to be acting independently.