Everything you need to know about Mali: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more
Mali: Africa’s Seventh Largest Country
Mali was an important point of caravan routes during 300AD and later on came under strong influence of Malinke Empire from 12th to the 16th century. In the 15th century the Songhai Empire reigned over the Timbuktu-Gao. In 1591 Morocco conquered Timbuktu and ruled Mali for two centuries. By the end of the 19th century France conquered Mali and renamed it French Sudan in 1920. In 1960 the Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent from the French domination and formed the Mali Federation. After Senegal withdrew from the federation Sudanese Republic was renamed as Mali.
Mali Profile: Overview of Facts and FiguresThe climate of Mali varies from subtropical in the south to arid in the north. Most of the country receives negligible amount of rainfall so droughts are frequent throughout the country.
Culture, Cuisine and Tradition of Mali:
Mali remains the place of cultural crossroad due to its location in between the Arab world to the north and the black African nations to the south. Music and dancing are the most common cultural activities. The major tribal groups are Malinke, Songhai, Bambara and Voltaic forms the population of Mali.
The woodcarvings on masks, statues and tables are famous among the Bambara and the Voltaic tribal groups. Architecture is well developed in the Niger valley. The Sudanic style finds typical expression in the storied houses and mosques of Djenné and Timbuktu. Localized handicrafts include jewelry making by the Mandingo people, leatherworking around the Niger Bend, the weaving of geometric designs into cotton cloth, and the carving of statues for the tourist trade.
Rice and millet are the staple diet of Malian cuisine. The cuisine of Mali is heavily based on cereal grains. Grains are generally prepared with a sauce that is made from leaves such as spinach or baobab leaves with tomato or with peanut sauce. And served with grilled meat of chicken, mutton, beef, or goat. Malian cuisine varies regionally due its delicate way of preparations, which varies with different tribal groups.
Economy of Mali:
The vast majority of Malians are employed in farming, herding, or fishing. Cotton and peanuts are Mali’s significant cash crops. While millet, rice, corn, sorghum, and vegetables are other major food crops that are cultivated for the domestic purpose. Gold, phosphate, kaolin, salt, limestone, and uranium are mined and exported. Mali also has vast deposits of mineral resources like bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper. Remittances from Malians working abroad are also an important source of income for the Mali economy.
Tourist Attractions of Mali:
The landlocked nation of Mali has abundant of places that attract tourists. Mali is the place known for its adventure-filled excursions to its stunning deserts, hiking along the world-renowned Bandiagara Escarpment, and camel treks.
Bamako: is the capital city of the Mali. The Musee National Museum, the colorful markets, zoo and botanical gardens and the Maison des Artisans in Bamako gives lively preface to the country.
Major Sight-seeing Places in Mali include:
Jaipur, May 19 (IANS) Two days after three hearing- and speech-impaired girls alleged rape and molestation by employees of a residential school here, statements of all the victims has been recorded, police said Sunday.
Pune, May 17 (IANS) A team of mountaineers from Pune conquered the world's tallest peak Mt. Everest and Mt. Lhotse, the world's fourth highest, early Friday, an official said here.
Mumbai, May 13 (IANS) Eminent photo-journalist Jagdish Mali, father of actress Antara Mali, died here Monday morning. He was in his 60s.
Mumbai, May 13 (IANS) Eminent photo-journalist Jagdish Mali, father of actress Antara Mali, passed away Monday morning.
Islamabad, May 7 (ANI): A new magazine set up by militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan has appealed to Muslims around the world to come up with a new technology to hack or manipulate drones.
London, Apr. 29 (ANI): Diplomats have warned of growing Islamist violence against western targets in Libya as blowback from the war in Mali, following last week's attack on the French embassy in Tripoli.
Jaipur, April 19 (IANS) A self-proclaimed witch doctor was arrested in Rajasthan's Bikaner district Friday for allegedly repeatedly raping a woman over six months on the pretext of exorcising an evil spirit that he claimed possessed her, police said.
Washington, Apr. 19 (ANI): Al-Qaida's North Africa branch has threatened to seek revenge against all countries taking part in the French-led war in Mali.
Washington, Apr. 18 (ANI): The United Nations Security Council has accused Syrian army, intelligence agency and a pro-government militia of being sexual war criminals for raping and assaulting women and children.
Mumbai, April 17 (IANS) As Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt got a month's reprieve, 11 others convicted in the 1993 Mumbai blasts and released on bail surrendered Wednesday before a Mumbai court after the Supreme Court rejected their appeals, an official said.
New Delhi, April 3 (IANS) India has of late witnessed a rise in cyber crime and experts attribute this to a "toothless" Information Technology (IT) Act that has been ineffective in tackling the problem.
Mumbai, April 2 (IANS) An artiste-activist couple from a Pune-based theatre group, accused of having Maoist links, surrendered to police outside the high-security precincts of Maharashtra legislature here Tuesday.
New Delhi, April 2 (IANS) In early March, suspected Chinese hackers breached the computers of India's top military organisation, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in what was touted to be amongst the biggest such security breaches in the country's history.
Oran (Algeria), March 31 (IANS) Egypt Under-20 football team snatched the 2013 African Youth Championship (AYC) title at the Ahmed Zabana Stadium here after edging past Ghana 5-4 on penalties.
Durban, Mar 28 (ANI): Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has said that India remained committed to support Africa with the entire spectrum of its expertise and capacity.
Washington, Mar. 24 (ANI): France has confirmed that the al Qaeda-linked warlord Abou Zeid has been killed in combat with French-led troops in Mali in February.
London, Mar 20 (ANI): Al-Qaeda has said that it has beheaded a French hostage in response to the country's military intervention in Mali.
New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez has come out in support of an ailing elephant that is at Manila Zoo and has requested the government to shift her to a sanctuary.
Paris, March 18 (IANS/RIA Novosti) A French corporal was killed during fighting in Mali, bringing to five the toll of the French military contingent fighting armed Islamists in the west African country, the president's office said.
Warsaw, March 18 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The Czech Republic has sent a group of 34 servicemen to Mali to join a military operation against Islamist militants.
Washington, Mar. 8 (ANI): More than 140 million girls will become child brides between 2011 and 2020, according to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Moscow, March 7 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The Libyan authorities should do everything possible to stop the spread of Libyan weapons in the region and beyond, Russian foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.
Washington, Mar. 6 (ANI): Shortly after the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya was attacked in September 2012, a phone call was made from the area to al Qaeda leader.
Washington, Mar. 6 (ANI): Shortly after the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya was attacked in September 2012, a phone call was made from the area to al Qaeda leader.
London, Mar 4 (ANI): Algerian Al-Qaeda commander Mokhtar Belmokhtar, reported killed by Chadian troops, may be alive, a monitoring service has claimed.
New Delhi, March 3 (IANS) A government delegation from Burkina Faso is coming this month to prospect for Indian partners for proposed mega infrastructure projects in the rapidly developing West African nation.
Washington, Mar 2 (ANI): An Al Qaeda chief was killed in northern Mali by Chad's army troops, who were fighting to dislodge an Al Qaeda affiliate in the area, according to Chad's president.
Washington, Feb 25 (IANS) US Secretary of State John Kerry Sunday kicked off an 11-day voyage to nine countries in Europe and the Middle East, the State Department said.
Paris, Feb 24 (IANS) A spate of sudden raids and suicide attacks launched by Malian rebels have highlighted the risk of the Mali Army and its allies becoming mired in a guerrilla war, reports Xinhua.
Washington, Feb 23 (ANI): U.S. is opening a new drone base in their war against Al Qaeda, as president Barack Obama announced on Friday that they hand sent 100 American troops to West African country Niger to facilitate setting up a new base from which unarmed Predator aircraft would conduct surveillance in the region.
London, Feb. 22 (ANI): A list of 22 tips used by al-Qaeda for dodging drone attacks has been found hidden inside a manila envelope in a building abandoned by Islamists in Mali.
New Delhi, Feb 14 (IANS) India and France Thursday discussed progress in negotiations over the Jaitapur nuclear power project and the over $10-billion deal for 126 Rafale fighter jets during talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and French President Francois Hollande here.
New Delhi, Feb 14 (IANS) Eric Trappier, chairman and chief executive officer of Dassault Aviation, the maker of Rafale combat jets, Thursday said he does not see any serious fall out of the Finmeccanica controversy on the Rafale deal.
London, Feb 14 (ANI): Terrorist group Al-Qaeda is desperately trying to politically hijack various rebel Islamist groups in North Africa, according to the analyses of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb document.
New Delhi, Feb 14 (IANS) France and India Thursday reiterated their commitment to the early implementation of the Jaitapur nuclear power project and speedy conclusion of the over $10-billion deal for 126 Rafale fighter jets as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and French President Francois Hollande inked four agreements here.
London, Feb 14 (ANI): A British lawmaker has admitted for the first time that a 'primitive understanding' of the Islamic world caused some of the problems faced by the west in Iraq and Afghanistan.
New Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) Strategic partners for nearly 15 years, India and France will seek to further cement their multi-faceted ties during the visit of French President Francois Hollande who arrives here Thursday.
New Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) When Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sits with President Fracois Hollande here Thursday for a review of the strategic partnership, he would perhaps do well to seek a little more clarity on the situation in the Sahel which holds significant interest for India.
New Delhi, Feb 13 (ANI): In the backdrop of tumultuous changes sweeping the Middle East, Defence Minister A K Antony on Wednesday expressed concern about the safety and security of Indians working in the region.
Johannesburg, Feb 12 (IANS) The Confederation of African Football (CAF) selected five members of the Nigerian national team for inclusion in the Team of the Tournament for the just ended Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Washington, Feb. 10 (ANI): The Ottoman-era entrance in Mecca's Grand Mosque has become the latest battleground in a conflict between those who want to preserve the city's architectural heritage and Saudi authorities who are pushing for redeveloping it.
Accra, Feb 8 (IANS) Ghanaian president John Dramani Mahama has said the government would engage the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to perform a post-mortem on the Black Stars' failure to glitter in the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa.
Paris, Feb 8 (IANS) The Indo-French romance will blossom with the arrival of French President Francois Hollande, accompanied by nearly half a dozen ministers and CEOs of over 60 leading French enterprises, in New Delhi on a two-day visit that will be his first trip to any country outside of Europe and the Francophone Africa.
London, Feb 6 (ANI): French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has said that 'several hundred' Islamist militants have been killed since his country's troops launched an offensive in Mali last month.
New Delhi, Feb 6 (ANI): India will host the next meeting of BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) Environment Ministers in Chennai on February 15-16.
Brussels, Feb 5 (IANS) India said Tuesday it strongly supports ongoing efforts aimed at restoring constitutional order in Mali and welcomed the progress made by the UN-backed International Support Mission towards restoring the authority of the state in the African country.
Paris, Feb 4 (IANS) Visiting US Vice President Joe Biden Monday said France and America haev agreed on the need to hand over the Mali military operations to a UN mission when it is "prudent", Xinhua reported.
Peshawar, Feb. 4 (ANI): The Pakistani Taliban has repeated the conditional offer of negotiations with Islamabad, but said they could only go ahead if certain politicians, including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief, Nawaz Sharif, acted as guarantors.
Moscow, Feb 1 (IANS) Russia Friday denied that its representatives were planning to take part in a four-party meeting on Syria.
London, Feb 1 (IANS) The Al Qaeda has vowed a series of terror strikes against Britain over London's involvement in a French-led operation against Islamist rebels in Mali.
Washington, Feb. 1 (ANI): Senior U.S. intelligence officials have confirmed that al-Qaeda affiliate in North Africa is aspiring to strike more U.S. and other western targets in Mali.
London, Feb. 1 (ANI): Al-Qaeda has vowed to carry out a series of 'lone wolf' terror strikes against Britain over the country's involvement in Mali.
Washington, Feb. 1 (ANI): The majority of historic manuscripts that were burned by fleeing Islamist extremists who torched a public library in Mali's Timbuktu are safe, according to experts involved in the preservation of the ancient texts.
Algiers, Jan 31 (IANS) David Cameron Thursday wrapped up his two-day visit to Algeria, the first by a British prime minister since 1962, and headed for Tripoli on a surprise visit to Libya, Xinhua reported.
New Delhi, Jan 31 (IANS) Unesco will do everything possible to safeguard and rebuild Mali's cultural heritage, the UN agency's director-general said Thursday following burning of ancient manuscripts and destruction of mausoleums by Islamist rebels in the west African nation.
London, Jan. 30 (ANI): Muslim patrols stalking streets in Britain could become 'a lot more dangerous' and perhaps even lead to maiming or killing, the head of an anti-extremism organisation has warned.
London, Jan. 30 (ANI): Britain could become 'bogged down' in a Vietnam-style conflict in Mali for years, MPs and military experts in the UK have warned.
London, Jan 29 (IANS) Britain will send around 240 military personnel to West Africa in a training role to aid the French-led mission against Islamist rebels in Mali, the government said Tuesday.
Washington, Jan 29 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved the disbursement of $18.4 million to Mali in support of efforts to maintain economic stability and growth in the war-torn country during the next 12 months.
Washington, Jan. 29 (ANI): The United States military is preparing to set up a drone base in northwest Africa.
Washington, Jan. 29 (ANI): Fleeing Islamist extremists torched a public library containing historic manuscripts in Timbuktu, as French and Malian forces closed in on Mali's fabled desert city.
London, Jan. 29 (ANI): French troops have seized the historic city of Timbuktu in Mali after advancing north into an area held by Islamist militants.
Tunis, Jan. 28 (Xinhua-ANI): Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki on Sunday called for a common African anti-terrorist strategy, the official TAP press agency reported Monday.
"Going to Timbuktu". This bit of a statement, made often in jest in metropolitan India, refers to some distant, exotic place on a corner of the earth. But for the clued up and those who care to find out, Timbuktu is the fabled city at the southern edge of the Sahara in Mali whose commercial and cultural riches attracted many for centuries.
Accra (Ghana) Jan 27 (IANS) As French-led international forces in Mali press on with their offensive against Islamist rebels, the situation has not had any impact on Indians living in the West African nation, an Indian official said. There are about 200 people of Indian origin living across Mali.
Washington, Jan 27 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The US will intensify its involvement in an ongoing military operation in Mali, where the French-led offensive against Islamists has entered its third week, the Department of Defense said.
Budapest, Jan 26 (IANS) The Budapest-Bamako rally got off to a shaky start from here amid warnings from authorities that drivers were heading to a war zone.
United Nations, Jan 26 (IANS) The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has appealed for nearly $1.4 billion to meet the immediate, life-saving needs of children in 45 countries and regions gripped by conflict, natural disasters and other complex emergencies this year.
Washington, Jan. 25 (ANI): Days after the deadly hostage crisis in Algeria, several European governments have warned of an 'imminent threat' to Westerners in neighboring Libya and urged their citizens to leave the eastern city of Benghazi.
London, Jan. 24 (ANI): A United Nations investigation into targeted killings will examine drone strikes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia, according to a British lawyer heading the inquiry.
New Delhi, Jan 22 (IANS) India will soon send oil and gas experts to Niger to explore hydrocarbon resources in the West African nation.
Algiers, Jan 21 (IANS) A total of 37 foreign hostages of eight countries were killed during the four-day standoff with militants at the In Amenas gas complex, Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal said Monday.
Mumbai, Jan 20 (IANS) "There is absolutely nothing wrong with me," says celebrated lensman Jagdish Mali who is "embarassed" at the controversy questioning his mental and physical health.
Washington, Jan.20 (ANI): The United States is reconsidering military role and assistance in Africa in view of the recent terror attacks on American citizens in North African countries like Mali and Algeria.
Washington, Jan. 20 (Xinhua-ANI): U.S. President Barack Obama has condemned the terrorist attack in Algeria leading to the deaths of 23 hostages, calling it another reminder of the threat posed by al-Qaeda and other violent extremist groups in North Africa.
A United Nation agency has predicted that the condition of West Africa is worsening due to ongoing fighting with Islamist insurgents in the areas, triggering to uproot approximately 7,00,000 people in Mali................
Washington, Jan 19 (IANS) One American worker was killed at a natural gas complex in Algeria where Al Qaeda-linked militants held more than 130 foreign workers hostage, the US State Department said.
Geneva, Jan 19 (IANS) Predicting a worsening of West Africa's refugee situation, a UN agency says up to 700,000 people are expected to be uprooted by the ongoing turmoil in Mali.
Algiers, Jan 18 (IANS) Around 650 hostages detained by an armed group at a gas field in Algeria have been freed, the official APS news agency reported Friday.
London, Jan. 18 (ANI): An attack by Algeria's military to free dozens of foreign hostages held by Islamist gunmen at a gas plant is reportedly over.
London, Jan 17 (IANS) Algerian army helicopters Thursday fired at a petroleum facility where over 40 Western hostages were being held, leaving at least 34 hostages and 15 kidnappers dead, media reports said.
London, Jan 17 (IANS) Al Qaeda-linked Somali Islamist group Al Shabab said it has killed French intelligence agent Denis Allex in retaliation for a failed French operation to free him, BBC reported Thursday.
Mumbai, Jan 17 (IANS) Ailing ace photographer Jagdish Mali, who was seen walking in a semi-nude condition in a city suburb, needs help, actor Salman Khan says.
London, Jan 17 (IANS) British Foreign Secretary William Hague said it was unclear how many Britons were being held captive after armed Islamists attacked a gas field in Algeria and killed a British worker.
Beijing, Jan. 17 (Xinhua-ANI): The United States on Wednesday condemned the attack on British Petroleum (BP) personnel and facilities in Algeria, saying American citizens are among the hostages.
Washington, Jan 17 (IANS) The US Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, has pledged to "take all necessary steps" to rescue American hostages taken by terrorists who took over a natural gas plant in Algeria, Xinhua reported.
Algiers, Jan 16 (IANS) A Briton and a Norwegian were killed Wednesday in an attack targeting an oil facility in Algeria's central province of Illizi, the official APS news agency reported.
London, Jan 16 (IANS) At least eight people including British, Norwegian and Japanese nationals were kidnapped Wednesday by suspected Al Qaeda militants from a British Petroleum (BP) natural gas field in Algeria, media reports said.
London, Jan. 13 (ANI): French President Francois Hollande has ordered to beef up security around public buildings and transport because of military operations in Africa.
Washington, Jan 12 (ANI): French troops have entered Mali to help the country's sagging Malian army in its battle against advancing Islamist fighters.
New York, Jan. 1 (ANI): Madonna looked like a novice skier, who had touched the ski slopes for the very first time, as she took several spills during a trip to a Swiss Alps resort.
London, Dec 29 (IANS) A British student has been arrest in North Africa after allegedly trying to join an Islamist terrorist group threatening to take control over the entire Sahara region, a media report said.
Nouakchott (Mauritania), Dec 27 (IANS) A 30-year-old Briton has been arrested by Mauritanian security forces in western Africa when he tried to join armed Islamist groups in Mali, Xinhua reported Thursday.
Rome, Dec 26 (IANS) Pope Benedict XVI, in his Christmas message, called for ending the violence in Syria and urged for showing greater respect for religious communities in China, which does not allow Catholics to respect papal authority.
London, Dec 24 (ANI): Islamists in Mali have started destroying remaining mausoleums in the historic city of Timbuktu.
Tripoli, Dec. 19 (ANI): Libya's decision to shut its desert frontiers is a 'tall order' for its fledgling army, which is ill-equipped to seal largely uninhabited Saharan wastes stretching more than 4,000 kilometers.
Tripoli, Dec. 19 (ANI): Libya's decision to shut its desert frontiers is a 'tall order' for its fledgling army, which is ill-equipped to seal largely uninhabited Saharan wastes stretching more than 4,000 kilometers.
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 13 (IANS) African filmmaker Souleymane Cisse says young filmmakers and artists from India and Africa should come forward and collaborate for movies.
Mali's Prime Minister Sheikh Modibo Diarra was arrested at his home late Monday night by the Kati military barracks. 60-year-old then resigned on state television.
London, Dec 5 (ANI): Mali government has reportedly held the first direct talks with rebel groups that seized the north of the country after a coup earlier this year.
