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==Geography==
==Geography==
Mali has three distinct natural regions. The southern region consists of a tropical savannah, while the central region, or Sahel, is semi-arid; both of these regions have the Niger River flowing through towards the west. The remaining region, the Sahara Desert, occupies more than half the country to the north.
Mali has three distinct natural regions. The southern region consists of a tropical savannah, while the central region, or Sahel, is semi-arid; both of these regions have the Niger River flowing through towards the west. The remaining region, the Sahara Desert, occupies more than half the country to the north.
*Area: 1,240,278 sq. km. (474,764 sq. mi.); about the size of Texas and California combined.
*Area: 1,240,278 km<sup>2</sup>. (474,764 sq. mi.); about the size of Texas and California combined.
*Cities: Capital—Bamako (pop. 1 million). Other cities—Segou (200,000), Sikasso (120,000), Mopti (90,000), Gao (65,000), Kayes (65,000), Timbuktu (38,000).
*Cities: Capital—Bamako (pop. 1 million). Other cities—Segou (200,000), Sikasso (120,000), Mopti (90,000), Gao (65,000), Kayes (65,000), Timbuktu (38,000).
*Terrain: Savannah and desert.
*Terrain: Savannah and desert.
*Industry (24% of GDP): Types—food processing, textiles, cigarettes, fish processing, metalworking, light manufacturing, plastics, and beverage bottling.
*Industry (24% of GDP): Types—food processing, textiles, cigarettes, fish processing, metalworking, light manufacturing, plastics, and beverage bottling.
*Services (40% of GDP): Telecommunications, construction.
*Services (40% of GDP): Telecommunications, construction.
*Trade (2004): Exports--$1,078 million: cotton and cotton products, animals, fish, tannery products, groundnuts, diamonds, and gold. Major markets—France, Switzerland, Italy, Thailand, Cote d'Ivoire, and Algeria. Imports--$1,084 million: food, machinery and spare parts, vehicles, petroleum products, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, textiles. Major suppliers—France, Cote d'Ivoire, Belgium, Luxembourg, U.S. ($43 million), Germany, and Japan.
*Trade (2004): Exports--$1,078 million: cotton and cotton products, animals, fish, tannery products, groundnuts, diamonds, and gold. Major markets—France, Switzerland, Italy, Thailand, Côte d'Ivoire, and Algeria. Imports--$1,084 million: food, machinery and spare parts, vehicles, petroleum products, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, textiles. Major suppliers—France, Côte d'Ivoire, Belgium, Luxembourg, U.S. ($43 million), Germany, and Japan.
The most productive agricultural area lies along the banks of the Niger River between Bamako and Mopti and extends south to the borders of Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. Average rainfall varies in this region from 50 centimeters per year (20 in.) around Mopti to 140 centimeters (55 in.) in the south near Sikasso. This area is most important for the production of cotton, rice, millet, corn, vegetables, tobacco, and tree crops.
The most productive agricultural area lies along the banks of the Niger River between Bamako and Mopti and extends south to the borders of Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. Average rainfall varies in this region from 50 centimeters per year (20 in.) around Mopti to 140 centimeters (55 in.) in the south near Sikasso. This area is most important for the production of cotton, rice, millet, corn, vegetables, tobacco, and tree crops.
Rice is grown extensively along the banks of the Niger between Ségou and Mopti, with the most important rice-producing area at the Office du Niger, located north of Ségou toward the Mauritanian border. Using water diverted from the Niger, the Office du Niger irrigates about 80,000 hectares of land for rice and sugarcane production. About one-third of Mali's paddy rice is produced at the Office du Niger.
Rice is grown extensively along the banks of the Niger between Ségou and Mopti, with the most important rice-producing area at the Office du Niger, located north of Ségou toward the Mauritanian border. Using water diverted from the Niger, the Office du Niger irrigates about 80,000 hectares of land for rice and sugarcane production. About one-third of Mali's paddy rice is produced at the Office du Niger.
General elections were organized in June and July 2002. President Konare did not seek reelection since he was serving his second and last term as required by the constitution. All political parties participated in the elections. In preparation for the elections, the government completed a new voter's list after a general census was administered a few months earlier with the support of all political parties. Retired General Amadou Toumani Toure, former head of state during Mali's transition (1991-1992) became the country's second democratically elected President as an independent candidate in 2002, and was reelected to a second 5-year term in 2007.
General elections were organized in June and July 2002. President Konare did not seek reelection since he was serving his second and last term as required by the constitution. All political parties participated in the elections. In preparation for the elections, the government completed a new voter's list after a general census was administered a few months earlier with the support of all political parties. Retired General Amadou Toumani Toure, former head of state during Mali's transition (1991-1992) became the country's second democratically elected President as an independent candidate in 2002, and was reelected to a second 5-year term in 2007.
In 2012 islamist terror organization [[Ansar Dine]] took power in the northern Mali. The government of Mali and french soldiers are currently fighting against the terrorists.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/01/16/french-forces-to-be-in-direct-combat-with-mali-militants-within-hours/</ref><ref>http://frontpagemag.com/2013/joseph-klein/malis-liberation-from-islamist-colonial-occupation/</ref> The army got the most control under the cities back.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/02/07/france-wary-backlash-from-their-war-in-mali-tries-to-root-out-would-be/</ref> On September 4, 2014 Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta was elected as president of Mali.<ref>http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/new-mali-president-keita-sworn-office</ref>
In 2012 Islamist terror organization [[Ansar Dine]] took power in the northern Mali. The government of Mali and French soldiers are currently fighting against the terrorists.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/01/16/french-forces-to-be-in-direct-combat-with-mali-militants-within-hours/</ref><ref>http://frontpagemag.com/2013/joseph-klein/malis-liberation-from-islamist-colonial-occupation/</ref> The army got the most control under the cities back.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/02/07/france-wary-backlash-from-their-war-in-mali-tries-to-root-out-would-be/</ref> On September 4, 2014 Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta was elected as president of Mali.<ref>http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/new-mali-president-keita-sworn-office</ref>
== References ==
== References ==