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Mali is the largest country in the West Africa, and it is surrounded by seven states. Towards the north and northeast it is bordered by Algeria, in the east by Niger, Burkina Faso to the southeast and, with the Ivory Coast, to the south. In the west Mali is bordered by Senegal and Mauritania. The northwestern region which extends into Sahara is mostly arid desert or semi desert.Since most of the country lies in Sahara, it gives birth to hot, dust-laden Harmattan haze common during dry seasons and lead to periodic droughts.
Mali is world's 24th largest country. Mali is a flat plain, rising to rolling northern plains covered by sand, with savanna and around the Niger River in the South. The Niger is both an important source of sustenance and a major transportation pathway; it is an excellent venue for boat travel. Although, Mali experiences negligible rainfall, the 'rainy' season extends from June through September in the south. February to June is hot and dry, June to November is Rainy, Humid and mild and November to February is generally cool and dry.
Mali has sizeable natural resources with gold, phosphates, salt, uranium, kaolinite and limestone which are being exploited. Other natural resources to be found are bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited |
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| History |
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Today Mali is one of the poorest country in the world, albeit it has a long and glorious past as an integral part of the great African empire. Mali was invaded by France in the late 19th Century, and was organized as an overseas territory. The Sudanese Republic and Senegal united and became the Mali Federation and gained independence form the French in 1960.
After few months Senegal withdrew from the Mali Fedration, and the formerly created Sudanese Republic was named Mali. The Dictatorship under Moussa Traore, came to an end in 1991, it was led down by a military Coup Amadou Toure the current President, enabling Mali's emergence as one of the strongest democracies on the continent. In 1992, Mali's first Democratic and multi-party presidential elections were held. The elections were broadly judged to be free and fair. Today, Mali is one of the most politically and socially stable countries in Africa. |
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| Politics |
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Mali is a presidential representative democratic republic, i.e. follows a republic type of government. The President is both the head of the State and the head of the Government. Government exercises the Executive powers. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the national Assembly of Mali.
Bamako is the Capital City of Mali. Mali is divided into 8 regions, Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou.
President: President Amadou Toumani TOURE
Head of government: Prime Minister Modibo SIDIBE |
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| Economy |
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Mali is one of the poorest country in the world. 65% of the land is desert area. Economic activity is highly dependent on the riverine area irrigated by the Niger. 80% of the labor force is employed in farming and fishing. 10% of the population is nomadic. The agricultural product to be found here are cotton, millet, vegetables, rice, corn, peanuts, cattle, sheep, goats. Mali is heavily dependent on Foreign aid and is sensitive to transgression in the world price of Cotton, its main export apart from the Gold.
Ethnic groups to be found in Mali Mande with 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul (Fula orFulani) 17%, Voltaic 12%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, Songhai 6%, other 5%. 90% of the population is Muslims, 1% Christians and 8% indigenous. Out of the muslim population 90% are Sunni Muslims. Official language is French, 80% of the population speaks Bambara and there are various other African language. |
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