Country Information on Mali 

Terrain

The Sahara Desert covers almost all of northern Mali and the Sahel, a belt of semi-arid desert that covers much of central Mali. The country's major geographical feature is the Niger River, which runs from the south-west to the north-east, up to the edge of the Sahara, where it forms a large curve and flows southwards again to the Gulf of Guinea. The river system divides in the centre of the country to form the Niger and Bani rivers. The country as a whole is however arid. Rain only regularly falls in the south, which allows small pockets of natural forest to exist.

Climate

Although it cools down a little towards the end of the year, the temperatures in Mali, particularly in the north, are extremely hot and often rise to above 40°C. Rain falls from June to September although this really only applies to the south. There is sporadic rainfall in the Sahel and it almost never rains in the north. The Harmattan winds blow from the Sahara from December to February and cover the cities, which are already dusty, with a fine layer of sand.

Fauna/Flora

Mali's climate and landscape mean that it is covered by a large amount of sand and that 65% of the country is now desert or semi-desert. The rapid desertification of Mali is also due to drought, over-grazing, topsoil erosion, harsh desert winds, and the scavenging of trees for firewood.

Mali has very few lush forests and few different species of animal. Baoule National Park, 130 km north-west of Bamako, is actually the only relatively fertile area in Mali, but even there, there are only a few lions, giraffes, buffalos and hippopotamuses.

History/Politics

Berbers, Arabs, Bambara, Malinke, amongst others originally settled what is now Mali. The Mali Empire was founded by Allakoi Keita (the leader of the Malinke people) in the 11th century and reached its heyday in the early 14th century under Emperor Kankan Musa, who expanded the empire to the Atlantic coast and Gao. Mali's importance had decreased by the next century. Over the 17th and 18th centuries several small states developed around the Niger basin (such as Ségou), which were all conquered by Muslim leader Omar towards the middle of the 19th century who integrated them into the theocratic Empire of Tukulor.

At the same time, the French started to conquer Mali; they gained control of the country in 1893 and Mali became a French colony in 1904. Mali became part of French Sudan in 1920. It was then integrated into French West Africa. After World War II, the democratic climate and the end of French colonial rule in other African countries encouraged the development of political parties and eventually led to the independence of French Sudan in 1960. Soon afterwards the country founded a federation with Senegal, Volta and Dahomey. However, the federation dissolved due to conflicting interests.

The Republic of Mali was created in 1960 and Modibo Keita was appointed its first president. The new republic tended towards Marxist policies, to the disapproval of army leaders, and Keita was overthrown in November 1968. He was succeeded by the dictatorial regime of Moussa Traoré characterised by political repression and an increase in the country's foreign debt.

Traoré was overthrown in an uprising in March 1991 and Lieutenant Colonel Amadou Tumani Touré came to power. After a series of internal revolts, the government signed a peace treaty. The country's first free multi-party elections were held in April 1992 and Alpha Oumar Konaré became president. The government's economic policy and violent repression of opposition parties again led to mass demonstrations, some of which were violently suppressed. Mali again held multi-party elections in 1997 and Konaré was re-elected president.

Amadou Toumani Touré won the presidential elections of 2002, but the members of parliament were not recognised by the constitutional tribunal, so the cabinet resigned and a national reconciliation government was named instead. In 2004, Touré named new ministers. That same year, a plague of locusts caused a humanitarian crisis, the consequences of which were still felt throughout 2005.

Economy

Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world. Its economy is based on agriculture (which employs 80% of the workforce). Industrial activity concentrates on processing farm commodities and cotton. Among the mineral resources that are exploited are salt, phosphates, gold and uranium. Vital farm commodities are millet, rice, sorghum, maize and sugar cane.

The most important agricultural region is the inland delta of the Niger between Ségou and Tombouctou. Dams on the Niger have helped to increase the area of cultivable land. Nevertheless, the crops and livestock are continually at risk because of droughts. In 2003 Mali's inflation rate was 0.8% and unemployment was 14.6%.

Culture

The major religious festivals are Aid-il-Fitr, the feast at the end of Ramadan and, 40 days later, Tabaski (the feast of the sacrifice), when each household sacrifices at least one ram. The dates of these festivals vary according to the lunar calendar.

The most captivating event on the Mali calendar is the crossing of the cattle at Diafarabé in December every year. It is a time for celebrations and festivities as herders are reunited with friends and family after several long months in the desert.