Mali was one of the greatest states in the world of its time, but is now one of the poorest countries on earth. Timbuktu has been a magnet for travelers for many years. Le Main de Fatma is a giant rock formation bursting out of the ground like an enormous hand near Hombori village 250 km southwest of Gao, and is featured on many tourist posters. This offers the best technical rock climbing in West Africa (some say the world). MANSA KANKAN MUSA - EMPEROR OF MALI was one of the most renowned of all the monarchs of the old Sudan. The Emperor claimed that the length of his realm was "about one year".
Mali is the heir to a great historical tradition. A series of powerful empires carried this name in the past, even though not all fell within the present borders of the country. The high point of the empire occurred in the 16th century thanks to a very busy gold trade. France found it hard and long to conquer Mali, and the army had to engage a full scale war which lasted 15 years to overcome the resistence of the last tribes.
Bamako:
Bamako is the capital city of Mali. It is located in the southwestern part of the country. Bamako originated as a group of villages in 1880, when the French occupied it. From then on, it grew to become the capital of the former French Sudan in 1908. Today, Bamako is a busy city with a population of over 475,000 people and contains many attractions such as zoos and botanical gardens. This city also possesses many research institutions and is the commercial center of the country. Mud brick building as an industry still prevails because from 1960 to 1970, a serious draught occurred in the countryside causing many rural workers to migrate to the city. Bamako stretches across both sides of the Niger river. This position enables a lot of shipping and trade to and from the city. Bamako sends cement and petroleum products down the river and receives rice and peanuts, which it then transports to other cities via railway. This city also has an airport.
Economy:
Since mid-1992 the Malian authorities have implemented an ambitious adjustment program designed to achieve sustained economic growth and move Mali to financial viability over the medium term. Overall, under the 1992-95 economic program, Mali made considerable progress in reducing financial imbalances and liberalizing its economic growth. Progress in implementing reforms in the social sectors has been relatively slow and access to social services improved only marginally. Mali has an important agricultural potential (cotton, rice and cereals, livestock). Mali has recently become the leading producer and exporter of cotton fiber in sub-Saharan Africa, with production more than doubling since the devaluation of the CFA franc in 1994. However, significantly lower production prospects are expected in 2000/01. Production of paddy rice in the Office du Niger zone has increased by a factor of five over the last 15 years. Livestock export to neighboring countries are now more competitive and local rice is now able to compete with imports from Asia without recourse to excessively high levels of protection. The Niger river has large irrigation potential, and the Senegal river (Manantali) has important hydro-power potential. Of gold, phosphate, diamonds and copper deposits, only gold and phosphate are currently exploited. Indications of expansion in industrial activity are encouraging (cottonseed oil, textiles, vegetable oil).
History:
Following independence in 1960, Mali was a one-party state under its President Modibo Keita who led the country on a path of socialism, with heavy emphasis on the role of the public sector in the economy. Following a 1968 coup, Moussa Traoré ruled until his overthrow in 1991. The 1992 democratic elections ushered in the Third Republic under President Alpha O. Konaré. The last 9 years have witnessed a profound political change in Mali. Mr. Konaré's government has sought to find a balance between restoring the authority of the state (considerably weakened in the face of growing power of several interest groups) and continuing to promote the democratization process. In the process, there have been four Government reshuffles since June 1992, the latest one in February 2000. The legislative election in August 1997 produced a parliament composed of ADEMA (the party of President Konaré) and its allies. Mali's electoral period, which lasted from April 1997 to June 1999, is now over. With the municipal elections for the last 682 communes, which took place this June, the process of decentralization can now begin. The next presidential elections are due in 2002.
