Mali
Republic of MaliRepublique de Mali
republicIndependence 22 September 1960 (from France)
Mali as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 95 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
18 fieldsLand use(1993 est.)
Climate
- subtropical to arid;
- hot and dry February to June;
- rainy, humid, and mild June to November;
- cool and dry November to February
Terrain
mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast
Natural resources
gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited
Environment-current issues
- deforestation;
- soil erosion;
- desertification;
- inadequate supplies of potable water;
- poaching
Environment-international agreements
- party to:
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
- signed, but not ratified:
- Nuclear Test Ban
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1998 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 47% (male 2,405,624; female 2,383,728)
- 15-64 years:
- 49% (male 2,367,538; female 2,628,399)
- 65 years and over:
- 4% (male 152,999; female 170,281) (July 1998 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.9 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.89 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Government
Republic; President Alpha Oumar KONARE (since 8 June 1992); Prime Minister Ibrahima Boubacar KEITA (since March 1994)
21 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Legislature, 147 seats, elected 20 July and 3 August 1997one dot, one seat
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Mali
- conventional short form:
- Mali
- local long form:
- Republique de Mali
- local short form:
- Mali
- former:
- French Sudan
Administrative divisions
8 regions (regions, singular-region); Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou
Legal system
- based on French civil law system and customary law;
- judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which was formally established on 9 March 1994);
- has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Alpha Oumar KONARE (since 8 June 1992)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Ibrahima Boubacar KEITA (since March 1994)
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
- elections:
- president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
- election last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held May 2002);
- prime minister appointed by the president
- election results:
- Alpha Oumar KONARE reelected president; percent of vote-Alpha Oumar KONARE 85.15%, Mamadou DIABY 4.09%, other 10.76%
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
- elections:
- last held 20 July and 3 August 1997 (next to be held in two rounds in 2002); note-much of the opposition boycotted the election
- election results:
- percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-ADEMA 130, PARENA 8, CDS 4, UDD 3, PDP 2
Political parties and leaders
- Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA [Ibrahim N'DIAYE, secretary-general];
- Party for National Renewal or PARENA [Yoro DIAKITE, chairman; Tiebile DRAME, secretary-general];
- Democratic and Social Convention or CDS [Mamadou Bakary SANGARE, chairman];
- Union for Democracy and Development or UDD [Moussa Balla COULIBALY, leader];
- Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Me Idrissa TRAORE, leader];
- National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL, chairman];
- Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou Bamou TOURE, secretary-general];
- Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Almamy SYLLA, chairman];
- Rally for Democracy and Labor or RDT [Ali GNANGADO, leader];
- Union of Democratic Forces for Progress or UFDP [Youssouf TOURE, secretary-general];
- Movement for the Independence, Renaissance and Integration of Africa or MIRIA [Mohamed Lamine TRAORE, Mouhamedou DICKO, leaders]
Political pressure groups and leaders
United Movement and Fronts of Azawad or MFUA; Patriotic Movement of the Ghanda Kaye or MPGK
International organization participation
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Cheick Oumar DIARRAH
- chancery:
- 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador David P. RAWSON
- embassy:
- Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako
- mailing address:
- B. P. 34, Bamako
- telephone:
- [223] 22 54 70
Flag description
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy
Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, | with 65% of its land area desert or semidesert.
28 fieldsGDP-composition by sector(1995)
Economy-overview
Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with 65% of its land area desert or semidesert. Economic activity is largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger. About 10% of the population is nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and fishing.
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. In 1997, the government continued its successful implementation of an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program that is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign investment.
Mali's adherence to economic reform, and the 50% devaluation of the African franc in January 1994, has pushed up economic growth. Several multinational corporations increased gold mining operations in 1996 and the government anticipates that Mali will become a major Sub-Saharan gold exporter in the next few years.
Industries
- minor local consumer goods production and food processing;
- construction;
- phosphate and gold mining
Exports
- total value:
- $473 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
- commodities:
- cotton, livestock, gold
- partners:
- mostly franc zone and Western Europe
Imports
- total value:
- $797 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
- commodities:
- machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, construction materials, petroleum, textiles
- partners:
- mostly franc zone and Western Europe
Exchange rates
CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1-608.36 (January 1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993) note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
Telephone system
domestic system poor but improving; provides only minimal service
- domestic:
- network consists of microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communications stations; expansion of microwave radio relay in progress
- international:
- satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)
Transportation
7 fieldsAirports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Railways
- total:
- 641 km; (linked to Senegal's rail system through Kayes)
- narrow gauge:
- 641 km 1.000-m gauge (1995)
Military
Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, | National Guard, National Police (Surete Nationale)
5 fieldsMilitary branches
Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National Guard, National Police (Surete Nationale)
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Mali.” The World Factbook 1998. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/mali/1998.