TOTAL AREA: 1,240,000 sq km (478,187 sq mi); LAND AREA: 1,220,000 sq km (470,474 sq mi)
COMPARATIVE AREA: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
LAND BOUNDARIES: 7,243 km (4,500 mi) total; Algeria 1,376 km (855 mi), Burkina 1,000 km (621 mi), Guinea 858 km (533 mi), Ivory Coast 532 km (531 mi), Mauritania 2,237 km (1390 mi), Niger 821 km (510 mi), Senegal 419 km (260 mi)
COASTLINE: none--landlocked
MARITIME CLAIMS: none--landlocked
DISPUTES: the disputed international boundary between Burkina and Mali was submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October 1983 and the ICJ issued its final ruling in December 1986, which both sides agreed to accept; Burkina and Mali are beginning to demarcate the boundary, including the tripoint with Niger
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
LAND USE: 2% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 25% meadows and pastures; 7% forest and woodland; 66% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
ENVIRONMENT: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; desertification; recent droughts affecting marginal agriculture
RELIGION: 90% Muslim, 9% indigenous beliefs, 1% Christian
LANGUAGE: French (official); Bambara spoken by about 80% of the population
LITERACY: 10%
LABOR FORCE: 3,100,000; 80% agriculture, 19% services, 1% industry and commerce (1981); 50% of population of working age (1985)
ORGANIZED LABOR: National Union of Malian Workers (UNTM) is umbrella organization for over 13 national unions
.GOVERNMENT OF MALI
LONG-FORM NAME: Republic of Mali
TYPE: republic; single-party constitutional government
CAPITAL: Bamako
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS: 7 regions (regions, singular--region); Gao, Kayes, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou; note--there may be a new capital district of Bamako
INDEPENDENCE: 22 September 1960 (from France; formerly French Sudan)
CONSTITUTION: 2 June 1974, effective 19 June 1979
LEGAL SYSTEM: based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Section of Court of State; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
NATIONAL HOLIDAY: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 22 September (1960)
BRANCHES: until 1979 executive authority exercised by Military Committee of National Liberation (MCNL) composed of 11 Army officers; Cabinet now composed of civilians and Army officers; unicameral legislature (National Council); judiciary
CHIEFS OF STATE AND HEAD OF GOVERNMENT: President Gen. Moussa TRAORE (since 6 December 1968)
SUFFRAGE: universal over age 21
POLITICAL PARTIES AND LEADERS: Democratic Union of Malian People (UDPM) is the sole political party; under civilian leadership
ELECTIONS: constitutional election took place June 1979
DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION: Ambassador Nouhoum SAMASSEKOU; Chancery at 2130 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 332-2249 or 939-8950
U.S. FOREIGN SERVICE POST: Ambassador Robert M. PRINGLE; Embassy at Rue Testard and Rue Mohamed V., Bamako (mailing address is B. P. 34, Bamako); telephone 225834
FLAG: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
.ECONOMY OF MALI
OVERVIEW: Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with about 80% 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 live as nomads and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in agriculture and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities.
GDP: $1.7 billion, per capita $180; real growth rate 9.6% (1986)
INFLATION RATE (CONSUMER PRICES): 8.0% (1985)
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: NA%
BUDGET: revenues $154 million; expenditures $169 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1982)
EXPORTS: $260 million (f.o.b., 1987); commodities-- livestock, peanuts, dried fish, cotton, skins; partners-- mostly franc zone and Western Europe
IMPORTS: $493 million (f.o.b., 1987); commodities-- textiles, vehicles, petroleum products, machinery, sugar, cereals; partners-- mostly franc zone and Western Europe
EXTERNAL DEBT: $2.1 billion (December 1988 est.)
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION: growth rate NA%
ELECTRICITY: 92,000 kW capacity; 165 million kWh produced, 20 kWh per capita (1988)
INDUSTRIES: small local consumer goods and processing, construction, phosphate, gold, fishing
RAILROADS: 642 km (398 mi) 1.000-meter gauge; linked to Senegal's rail system through Kayes
HIGHWAYS: about 15,700 km (9,749 mi) total; 1,670 km bituminous, 3,670 km gravel and improved earth, 10,360 km unimproved earth
INLAND WATERWAYS: 1,815 km (1,128 mi) navigable
CIVIL AIR: no major transport aircraft
AIRPORTS: 38 total, 30 usable; 8 with permanent-surface runways; 7 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 8 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
TELECOMMUNICATIONS: domestic system poor but improving; provides only minimal service with radio relay, wire, and radio communications stations; expansion of radio relay in progress; 9,500 telephones; stations--2 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV; satellite ground stations--1 Atlantic and 1 Indian Ocean
.DEFENSE FORCES OF MALI
BRANCHES: Army, Air Force; paramilitary, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National Guard
MILITARY MANPOWER: males 15-49, 1,935,467; 1,100,046 fit for military service; no conscription
MILITARY BUDGET: $47.2 million, 18% of central government budget (1987)
.TRAVEL IN MALI
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Passport and visa required. Visa valid 1 week, $17. Requires 2 photos, 2 applications, and may be extended in Mali. Visas must be obtained before arrival. For business visa, need company letter stating purpose of trip. Send SASE for return of passport, if applying by mail. A fee of CFA 10,000 must be paid to the Malian Tourist Agency, SMERT, after arrival to permit internal travel. Vaccination certificate required for yellow fever.
HEALTH: Medical facilities are limited. Tapwater is not potable. Unwashed raw foods or undercooked meats are not safe to eat. Avoid local dairy products. Insects, rats, and rabies are prevalent. Malaria suppressants and cholera inoculations are strongly recommended. Health requirements change; check latest information.
TOURIST OFFICE: Societe Malienne d'Exploitation des Resources Touristiques, Place de Republique, [B.P. 222], Bamako, Mali, Tel 22-59-42.
WEATHER AND CLOTHING: Summer clothing is suitable for Bamako. Sturdy shoes are recommended.
TELEPHONE: When direct dialing to Mali from the U.S., dial 011 (international access code) + 265 [country code] + local number, or use the international operator. Outgoing phone service may be unreliable.
TIME: 5 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time, and the same as Greenwich Mean Time.
ELECTRIC CURRENT: 220V
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day (Jan 1); Prophet's Baptism (variable); Army Day (Jan 20); Easter Monday (variable); Labor Day (May 1); Day of Africa (May 25); Ramadan (variable); Tabaski (variable); Independence Day (Sep 22); Mawloud (variable); Liberation Day (Nov 19); Christmas Day (Dec 25).
IMPORTANT!! All requirements/recommendations are subject to change. Be sure to check latest information.
