Mali
Official Country Name
Mali
Mali Overview
The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamed Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 by a coup that ushered in democratic government. President Alpha KONARE won Mali's first democratic presidential election in 1992 and was reelected in 1997. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, KONARE stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou TOURE.
Mali Economy
Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with 65% of its land area desert or semidesert and with a highly unequal distribution of income. Economic activity is largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger. About 10% of the population is nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid and vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main export, along with gold. The government has continued its successful implementation of an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program that is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign investment. Mali's adherence to economic reform and the 50% devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 have pushed up economic growth to a sturdy 5% average in 1996-2006. Worker remittances and external trade routes for the landlocked country have been jeopardized by continued unrest in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire.
Mali Location
Mali is located in Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Region
Mali is located in Africa
Mali Population
Mali has population of 11,716,829 (July 2006 est.)
Mali Climate
Mali has subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid, and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February)
Mali Terrain
mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast
Mali Natural Resources
gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite, hydropower note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited
Ethnic Groups in Mali
Mali has the following ethnic groups - Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%
Mali Religions
Muslim 90%, Christian 1%, indigenous beliefs 9%
Mali Languages
French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
Mali Capital
Mali capital is Bamako
Mali Currency
Mali currency is Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Map of Mali
