Background:The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, the Sudanese Republic was renamed Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 with a transitional government, and in 1992 when Mali's first democratic presidential election was held. After his reelection in 1997, President Alpha KONARE continued to push through political and economic reforms and to fight corruption. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, he stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou TOURE.
Location:Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Geographic coordinates:17 00 N, 4 00 W
Area:1.24 million sq Km
Climate:Subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy, humid, and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February
Population:11,956,788(July 2004 est.)
Ethnic groups:Mande 50% , Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%
Languages: French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
Economy:Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with 65% of its land area desert or semi desert. Economic activity is largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by theNiger.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.
Conventional long form:Republic of Mal
Government type: republic
Capital: Bamako
Administrative divisions:8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou
Independence:22 September 1960 (from France)
Legal system:based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which was formally established on9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
ReligionS:Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%
Natural resources: gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, hydropower
note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited
