Mali

National name

République de Mali

Government

Republic.

Geography
Most of Mali, in West Africa, lies in the Sahara. The only fertile area is in the south, where the Niger and Senegal rivers provide irrigation.

Historical Background
The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamed Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 by a coup that ushered in democratic government. President Alpha KONARE won Mali's first democratic presidential election in 1992 and was reelected in 1997. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, KONARE stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou TOURE.

Facts & Figures

Name

MALI

Capital

Bamako

Government

Semi-presidential republic

Language

Bambara

Religion

Mali is divided into eight regions and one capital district. Each of the regions bears the name of its principal city. The regions are divided into 49 cercles. The cercles and the capital district are divided into 703 communes.[1]

Area

298 km2 (206th)115 sq m

Population

2010 estimate 396,334[5] (176th1) 2006 census 298,968[6]

Currency

Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR)