Mali

Important Cities

Bamako(Capital)
Sikasso
Koulikoro
Kayes
Segou
Mopti
Tombouctou
Gao
Kidal
Taoudenni
Ansongo
Bougouni
Nara
Araouane

Main Attractions

Djinquereber Mosque, Timbuktu
Djenne Mosque (Also Known as Grand Mosque)
Le Main de Fatima
Musee National
Jenne-Jeno, Djenne
Botanical Garden, Bamako
Bandiagara Cliffs (Dogon Country), Mopti
Mopti Mosque
Tomb of Askia, Gao

Main Industries

Gold Mining
Constructions
Food Processing
Phosphate Mining

Il Mali divenne territorio della Comunità Francese nel 1946.
Il Mali è infatti un'area di incontro tra vera e propria Africa (il Sudan) e Africa bianca; è un paese di incroci etnici, iniziati sin dall'inaridimento del Sahara, che portò molte popolazioni insediate nelle regioni a spostarsi verso sud per inseguire condizioni ambientali meno difficili.
Il gruppo numericamente più rilevante è quello dei Bambara (32%), affine ai Malinke (popolo del grande gruppo mande, rappresentato nel Mali da circa 200.000 individui) e ai Marka (280.000), eredi dell'impero del Mali, tradizionalmente coltivatori di miglio; secondo alcuni autori, sarebbero stati i primi a introdurre l'agricoltura in Africa.
Mali was invaded by France starting in 1880, which annexed it as an overseas department of France.
Under Mali's 1992 constitution, a president is elected for a five year term as chief of state and commander in chief of the armed forces.
Mali is divided into 8 regions (régions) and 1 district, then 49 circles (cercles) and finally 288 arrondissements.
From the 5th century through the 19th century, Mali was the core of a series of West African empires that sought control of Tombouctou’s lucrative caravan routes and the gold to its south.
French remains the official language of Mali, and Islam is by far the major religion.
Mali is bounded by Algeria on the north; by Niger on the east; by Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea on the south; and by Senegal and Mauritania on the west.
Mali, the largest country in West Africa, is bordered by seven other states: Algeria lies to the north and northeast, Niger to the east, Burkina Faso to the southeast and, with the Ivory Coast, to the south.