Mali

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Mali

General Information
Geography
Government
Economy
Population
Health
Communications and media
Chronology


GENERAL INFORMATION

National name République du Mali/Republic of Mali Area 1,240,142 sq km/478,818 sq mi Capital Bamako Language French (official), Bambara, other African languages Religion Sunni Muslim 80%, animist, Christian Time difference GMT +/-0 Major holidays 1, 20 January, 1, 25 May, 22 September, 19 November, 25 December; variable: Eid-ul-Adha, end of Ramadan, Prophet's Birthday, Prophet's Baptism (November)


GEOGRAPHY

Major towns/cities Mopti, Kayes, Ségou, Tombouctou, Sikasso Physical features landlocked state with River Niger and savannah in south; part of the Sahara in north; hills in northeast; Senegal River and its branches irrigate the southwest Airports international airports: Bamako (Senou), Mopti; ten domestic airports; total passengers carried: 46,000 (2003 est) Railways total length: 1,286 km/802 mi; total passenger journeys: 778,000 (2000) Roads total road network: 15,100 km/9,383 mi, of which 12.1% paved (1999 est); passenger cars: 2.9 per 1,000 people (1996 est)


GOVERNMENT

Head of state Amadou Toumani Touré from 2002 Head of government Ousmane Issoufi Maïga from 2004 Political system emergent democracy Political executive limited presidency Administrative divisions capital district of Bamako and eight regions Political parties Alliance for Democracy in Mali (ADEMA), left of centre; National Committee for Democratic Initiative (CNID), left of centre; Assembly for Democracy and Progress (RDP), left of centre; Civic Society and the Democracy and Progress Party (PDP), left of centre; Malian People's Democratic Union (UDPM), nationalist socialist Death penalty retains the death penalty for ordinary crimes but can be considered abolitionist in practice; date of last known execution 1980 Armed forces 7,400; plus paramilitary forces of 4,800 (2006 est) Conscription selective conscription for two years Defence spend (% GDP) 1.9 (2004 est) Education spend (% GDP) 2.9 (2001 est) Health spend (% GDP) 2.8 (2004)


ECONOMY

Currency franc CFA GDP (US$) 5.1 billion (2005 est) Real GDP growth (% change on previous year) 5.1 (2006 est) GNI (US$) 5.1 billion (2005 est) GNI per capita (PPP) (US$) 1,000 (2005 est) Consumer price inflation 1.9% (2006 est) Labour force 72% agriculture, 3% industry, 15% services (2003 est) Foreign debt (US$) 3.5 billion (2005 est) Major trading partners China, France, Thailand, Pakistan, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, India Resources iron ore, uranium, diamonds, bauxite, manganese, copper, lithium, gold Industries food processing, cotton processing, textiles, clothes, cement, pharmaceuticals Exports gold, cotton, livestock, miscellaneous manufactured articles. Principal market: China 24.2% (2005) Imports petroleum products, machinery and transport equipment, food products, other raw materials, chemicals, miscellaneous manufactured articles. Principal source: France 13.3% (2005) Arable land 3.8% (2006 est) Agricultural products seed cotton, cotton lint, groundnuts, millet, sugar cane, rice, sorghum, sweet potatoes, mangoes, vegetables; livestock rearing (cattle, sheep, and goats); fishing


POPULATION

Population 13,918,200 (2006 est) Population growth rate 13,918,200 (2006 est) Population density (per sq km) 11 (2006 est) Urban population (% of total) 34 (2005 est) Age distribution (% of total population) 0–14 48%, 15–59 48%, 60+ 4% (2005 est) Ethnic groups around 50% belong to the Mande group, including the Bambara, Malinke, and Sarakole; other significant groups include the Fulani, Minianka, Senutu, Songhai, and the nomadic Tuareg in the north Life expectancy 49 (men); 50 (women) (2005–10) Child mortality rate (under 5, per 1,000 live births) 219 (2004) Literacy rate 27% (men); 12% (women) (2004 est)


HEALTH

Physicians (per 10,000 people) 0.4 (2004 est) Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) 0.2 (2002 est) HIV infection (% of population aged 15–49) 1.7 (2005 est) AIDS deaths 11,000 (2005 est) Access to drinking-water source (% of total population) 76 (urban); 35 (rural) (2002)


COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

Landline telephones (per 100 people) 0.7 (2005 est) Mobile phone subscribers (per 100 people) 7.7 (2005 est) Radios (per 1,000 people) 180 (2001 est) TV sets (per 1,000 people) 36 (2004 est) Personal computer users (per 100 people) 0.4 (2005 est) Internet users (per 100 people) 0.5 (2005 est)


CHRONOLOGY

5th–13th centuries Ghana Empire founded by agriculturist Soninke people, based on the Saharan gold trade for which Timbuktu became an important centre. At its height in the 11th century it covered much of the western Sahel, comprising parts of present-day Mali, Senegal, and Mauritania. Wars with Muslim Berber tribes from the north led to its downfall. 13th–15th centuries Ghana Empire superseded by Muslim Mali Empire of Malinke (Mandingo) people of southwest, from which Mali derives its name. At its peak, under Mansa Musa in the 14th century, it covered parts of Mali, Senegal, Gambia, and southern Mauritania. 15th–16th centuries Muslim Songhai Empire, centred around Timbuktu and Gao, superseded Mali Empire. It covered Mali, Senegal, Gambia, and parts of Mauritania, Niger, and Nigeria, and included a professional army and civil service. 1591 Songhai Empire destroyed by Moroccan Berbers, under Ahmad al-Mansur, who launched an invasion to take over western Sudanese gold trade and took control over Timbuktu. 18th–19th centuries Niger valley region was divided between the nomadic Tuareg, in the area around Gao in the northeast, and the Fulani and Bambara kingdoms, around Macina and Bambara in the centre and southwest. late 18th century Western Mali visited by Scottish explorer Mungo Park. mid-19th century The Islamic Tukolor, as part of a jihad (holy war) conquered much of western Mali, including Fulani and Bambara kingdoms, while in the south, Samori Ture, a Muslim Malinke (Mandingo) warrior, created a small empire. 1880–95 Region conquered by French, who overcame Tukolor and Samori resistance to establish colony of French Sudan. 1904 Became part of the Federation of French West Africa. 1946 French Sudan became overseas territory within the French Union, with its own territorial assembly and representation in French parliament; pro-autonomy Sudanese Union and Sudanese Progressive Parties founded in Bamako. 1959 Formed Federation of Mali with Senegal. 1960 Separated from Senegal and became independent Republic of Mali, with Modibo Keita, of the socialist Sudanese Union party, as president. 1968 Keita replaced in army coup by Lt Moussa Traore; constitution suspended and political activity banned. 1974 New constitution establishing one-party state. 1985 Conflict with Burkina Faso over long-standing border dispute; mediated by International Court of Justice. late 1980s Closer ties developed with the West; free-market economic policies pursued. 1991 Violent demonstrations and strikes against one-party rule; Traore ousted in coup. 1992 Referendum endorsed new democratic constitution; opposition Alliance for Democracy in Mali (ADEMA) won multiparty elections; Alpha Oumar Konare elected president. 1997 President Konare re-elected. 2002 Amadou Toumani Touré elected president; first time in Mali history that one constitutionally-elected president handed over to another. 2005 Food shortages due to drought and locust infestations. 2006 Algerian-brokered peace agreement with Tuareg rebels fighting for more autonomy in northern desert region. 2007 President Toure re-elected.


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