officially Republic of Mali
Country, West Africa.
Area: 482,077 sq mi (1,248,574 sq km). Population (2002 est.): 11,340,000. Capital: Bamako . The Bambara constitute about one-third of the country's total population. Other ethnic groups include the Fulani and the Sahara . The upper Niger River basin is situated in the south, and nearly one-third of the total length of the Niger River flows through Mali. Only a tiny fraction of Mali's total land area is considered arable. Its mineral reserves, which are largely unexploited, include iron ore, bauxite, petroleum, gold, nickel, and copper. Agriculture is the largest industry; staple crops include millet, sorghum, corn (maize), and rice; cash crops include cotton and peanuts. Mali is a republic with one legislative house; its head of state is the president, and the head of government is the prime minister. Inhabited since prehistoric times, the region was situated on a caravan route across the Sahara. In the 12th century the Malinke empire of Mali was founded on the upper and middle Niger. In the 15th century the Songhai empire in the Timbuktu-Gao region gained control. In 1591 Morocco invaded the area, and Timbuktu gradually declined in importance. In the mid-19th century the French conquered the area, which became part of French West Africa. In 1946 the area, known as the French Sudan, became an overseas territory of the French Union. In 1958 it was proclaimed the Sudanese Republic, and it joined with Senegal (1959–60) to form the Mali Federation. Senegal seceded, and in 1960 the independent Republic of Mali was formed. The government was overthrown by military coups in 1968 and 1991. During the 1990s elections were held twice, and economic problems did not stop elections in 2002.