Overview of Mali

Profile

Mali is the second-largest landlocked country in West Africa, with the northern two-thirds of its territory occupied by the Sahara Desert. The central region, traversed by the Niger River and its inland delta, is a center of agriculture and fishing, while the south is covered by savannas that yield cotton and grains. The historic Mali Empire, Songhai Empire, and the desert city of Timbuktu once flourished through gold and salt trade, illuminating Islamic scholarship. Today, multiple ethnic groups coexist, and rich oral traditions such as griots' narratives and Sahara blues music thrive. However, recent challenges include the rise of armed groups and climate change that hinder development.

Official name: Republic of Mali
Common name: Mali
Numeric code: 466
Alpha-3 code: MLI
Alpha-2 code: ML
Population: 22 million people (2023)
Population density: Approximately 18 people/km2
Primary languages: Bambara, Fulfulde, Songhay, Tamashek, French
Major religions: Islam
National anthem: Pour l'Afrique et pour toi, Mali
Calling code: +223
Internet TLD: .ml

History

Inheriting the name of the former Mali Empire, it gained independence from France in 1960. It has experienced repeated military coups and transitions to civilian government and is currently under a transitional military regime.

Since the 7th-century Ghana Kingdom, this region has been a center of gold and salt trade, and in the 13th century, Sundiata Keita established the Mali Empire. King Mansa Musa showered enormous amounts of gold during his Mecca pilgrimage, making the empire world-famous. The Songhai Empire rose in the late 15th century but declined after a Moroccan invasion in the late 16th century. In the 19th century, large and small kingdoms such as Bambara and Tukulor emerged, eventually colonized as French Sudan. On September 22, 1960, it gained independence and went through a socialist route, but military coups occurred in 1968, 1991, 2012, 2020, and 2021. Currently, a transitional government led by Colonel Assimi Goïta rules, and conflicts with Tuareg and jihadist armed groups continue in the north.

Geography & climate

Gradual plateaus stretch from the Sahara Desert through Sahel grasslands, the vast Niger River floodplain, to the low savanna hills of the south.

Dual nature of desert climate and tropical savanna climate

Area: Africa / 1240192 km²
Capital: Bamako
Largest city: Bamako
Coastal status: No
Bordering countries: Mauritania, Senegal, Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea

Natural resources

Gold, Bauxite, Iron ore, Lithium, Uranium, Limestone, Phosphate, Rock salt, Gas fields (undeveloped), Pasture, Fishery resources (Nile perch, etc.), Shea nuts, Gum arabic, Solar energy, Wind power potential

Politics

Government: Republic under transitional military regime (Presidential system)

Economy

Currency: West African CFA Franc (XOF)

GDP (nominal): 194 Hundred million dollars (2023)

GDP (PPP): 550 Hundred million dollars (2023)

Language & timezone

Primary languages: Bambara, Fulfulde, Songhay, Tamashek, French

Time zone: West Africa Standard Time

Culture & customs

Ethnic groups

Bambara people, Fulani people, Songhai people, Malinke people, Soninke people, Tuareg people, Bozo people, Dogon people, Moor people

Life expectancy

Approximately 61.5 years

Literacy rate

38%

National sports

Football, Basketball, Wrestling (La Lutte), Athletics, Traditional stick fighting "Tig", Cycling road race