Mali
Mali, officially the Republic of Mali, is a landlocked country in West Africa. It is the eighth-largest country in Africa, with an area of over 1,241,238 square kilometres (479,245 sq mi). The country is bordered to the north by Algeria, to the east by Niger, to the northwest by Mauritania, to the south by Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast, and to the west by Guinea and Senegal. The population of Mali is 21.9 million, 67% of which was estimated to be under the age of 25 in 2017. Its capital and largest city is Bamako. The country has 13 official languages, of which Bambara is the most commonly spoken.
Some of the key events about Mali
- 1235The University of Timbuktu was founded, becoming one of the world's oldest centers of learning
- 1235The Mali Empire was founded through violent conquest and subjugation of neighboring peoples
- 1324Mansa Musa's legendary pilgrimage to Mecca brought global attention to Mali's wealth and culture
- 1591The Moroccan invasion led to the decline of the Songhai Empire and destabilized the region
- 1880French colonial forces began the conquest of Mali, leading to decades of foreign rule
- 1960Mali gained independence from France, marking the beginning of its sovereignty
- 1962A military coup overthrew Mali's first president, ending the country's brief experiment with democracy
- 1968Another military coup established a one-party state that lasted for over two decades
- 1974The Great Mosque of Djenné, the world's largest mud-brick building, was reconstructed
- 1985A border war erupted between Mali and Burkina Faso, resulting in hundreds of casualties
- 1988Mali joined the World Heritage Convention, leading to the protection of its cultural sites
- 1990A rebellion in northern Mali led to years of conflict between Tuareg separatists and the government
- 2001Mali successfully hosted the Africa Cup of Nations football tournament
- 2007The country launched its first satellite, demonstrating technological advancement
- 2012The ancient manuscripts of Timbuktu were saved from destruction during conflict
- 2012A military coup overthrew the government, leading to political instability and an Islamist insurgency in the north
- 2013A successful presidential election marked a return to democratic rule after a period of instability
- 2013France launched a military intervention to combat Islamist militants who had taken control of northern Mali
- 2020Another military coup overthrew the elected government, further destabilizing the country
- 2021Mali made significant progress in reducing infant mortality rates, according to UNICEF reports
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
Mali Latest news
British mining boss detained in Mali as company agrees to huge payment deal
A London-listed mining firm must pay $160m to Maliʼs government after its British executives were held in the capital. The companyʼs stock dropped while negotiations about their release continue
How Russian military group lost its grip in African security promise
Russian private military presence in Mali faces major setbacks after recent attacks expose security gaps. Local conflicts intensify despite Moscowʼs promises to bring stability to the region
Russian plot targets new malaria vaccine program in Africa
Russian agents spread false info about British-made malaria shots in Africa using local social-media voices. This campaign copies old Soviet tactics that once caused major health problems on the continent