COUNTRY INFO

Location
Central West Africa.
Area
1,240,192 sq km (478,841 sq miles).

Population
12.6 million (official estimate 2002).

Population Density
10.2 per sq km.

Capital
Bamako. Population: 1 million (1998).

Government
Republic. Gained independence from France in 1960.

Language
The official language is French. There are a number of local languages.

Religion
Muslim (80 per cent), with animist (18 per cent) and Christian (under 2 per cent) minorities.

Time
GMT.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz in Bamako. Larger towns in Mali have their own locally-generated supply.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Ousmane Issoufi Maïga since 2004.

Head of State
President Amadou Toumani Touré since 2002.

Telephone
Country code: 223. Outgoing international calls must be made via the international operator. These are expensive and collect calls cannot be made from Mali.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies. Coverage is limited to main towns.

Internet
There is an Internet cafe in Bamako.

Media
Mali’s broadcast and print media are among the most free in Africa.

Post
International post is limited to main towns and the central post office. Airmail to Europe takes approximately two weeks. For further details, contact the embassy.

Press

• There are no English-language newspapers.
• The dailies, including Les Echos, L’Essor (website: www.essor.gov.ml), Info Matin and Le Républicain, are published in

French.

Radio

• Office de la Radiodiffusion Television du Mali (ORTM) is the public broadcaster.
• Commercial radio stations include Radio Patriote, Radio Liberté and Radio Kledu.

Below are listed Public Holidays for 2008.

1 Jan New Year’s Day.

20 Jan Armed Forces’ Day.

20 Mar Mawloud (Prophet’s Birthday).

24 Mar Easter Monday.

26 Mar Day of Democracy.

1 May Labor Day.

25 May Africa Day.

22 Sep Independence Day.

2 Oct Korité (End of Ramadan).

9 Dec Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice).

25 Dec Christmas Day.

Note Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Korité (Eid al-Fitr), Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Korité itself. Korité and Tabaski (Eid al-Adha) may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

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WHERE TO GO

Excursions :

Bamako

The capital is a modern town and the educational and cultural center of Mali. The main places of interest are the markets, the Botanical Gardens, the Musée National, the zoo and the craft center at the Maison des Artisans.

Djenné

Known as the ‘Jewel of the Niger’, Djenné was founded in 1250. It has a beautiful mosque, the Grande Mosquée, and it is one of the oldest trading towns along the trans-Saharan caravan routes. Old Djenné is located about 5km (3 miles) from Djenné and was founded around 250BC. The town quickly developed into a market center and important link in the trans-Saharan gold trade. In the 15th and 16th centuries, it became one of the spiritual centers for the dissemination of Islam. Nearly 2000 of its traditional houses, built on hillocks (toguere) and adapted to the seasonal floods, have survived. Old Djenné is today listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Mopti

The center of Mali’s tourist industry, Mopti is located at the confluence of the Bani and the Niger and is built on three islands joined by dykes. There is another fine mosque here. The market in the town center, Marché des Souvenirs, and the area surrounding the port are also worth visiting.

Bandiagara

Southeast of Mopti is the Bandiagara country, peopled by the Dogons, whose ancient beliefs have remained largely untouched by Islam. Visitors should treat villagers with respect. The Cliffs of Bandiagara have been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The Dogon people are believed to have been the original inhabitants of the Niger river valley and, for thousands of years, inhabited villages cut into the cliffs of the 200km- (80mile-) long Bandiagara escarpment. Although most of the Dogons have now relocated to the plains, the ancient villages on the cliffs are still standing. (See the Dogon myth).

Timbuktu

Timbuktu is a name that has passed into English vernacular as a byword for inaccessibility and remoteness. It is, however, neither of these things owing to the magnificent camel caravans (some of them comprising over 3000 animals) which arrive every year from the Taoudenni salt mines to distribute their produce throughout the Sahel. By the 15th century, Timbuktu was the center of a lucrative trade in salt and gold, straddling the trans-Saharan caravan routes, as well as being a great center of Islamic learning. Much of this ancient city is in decay, but it is the site of many beautiful mosques (Djingerebur, Sankore and Sidi Yahaya for example) and tombs, some dating back to the 14th century.

Elsewhere

Another ancient city which had its heyday in the 15th century is Gao. Gao houses the mosque of Kankan Moussa and the tombs of the Askia Dynasty. There are also two excellent markets. The city has recently undergone much urban development. San and Ségou are both interesting towns. The National Park of La Boucle de Baoule contains an array of southern Sahelian species of wildlife, including giraffe, leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo and hippo.

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Money and Credit cards

Foreign exchange : Euros and USDollars are readily exchangeable in Bamako and other capital cities.

NB: Large denominations ($100, 100€, 200€, 500€) are preferred and provide a better exchange rate than smaller bills.

Travelers checks are also exchangeable, but not as readily as cash—you should expect to pay a commission of 5-20% on travellers checks .

**Be prepared for lengthy procedures to exchange travellers checks, and be sure to have your purchase receipt — some banks and exchange bureaus will not exchange travellers checks without the purchase receipt.

In the interior of Mali and other countries, cash may also be exchanged (not quite as easily as in the capital cities), but travelers checks likely not.

Credit cards : Please note that credit cards are very little used in our local cash economies — only at a few banks, large hotels and restaurants in Bamako and other major cities. Visa card is usually the only card accepted, and sometimes, MasterCard or American Express ; despite American Express' publicity, it is not widely utilized in West Africa. In the interior of any country, do not count on using credit cards at all. It is nevertheless a good idea to bring a Visa card for emergency use in the capital cities.

There is one ATM in Mali, located in Bamako. It accepts only Visa card, and gives a maximum cash advance of 200,000 CFA, approximately $400, at current exchange rate.

There are also Western Union outlets in Bamako, Sikasso, Kayes, Segou, Mopti, and Timbuktu, where cash can be transferred and accessed the same day.

Mali Local currency, exchange rates

The local currency is called 'CFA' and is utilized in several other West African countries, namely: Burkina Faso, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast and Senegal.

Approximate exchange rates as of August 2007 are:
480 CFA = $1 US
650 CFA = 1 Euro
1 Euro = $1.37 US

When checking the exchange rate with a Currency Converter, remember that these sites typically list the interbank rate, whereas the retail rate is what you will get locally.

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Tipping and Gratuities in Mali

Tipping is discretionary, not required. A small tip is a traditional way of expressing one's respect, as well as appreciation for good services.

Here are some guidelines and local norms:

- tour guide/escort: approx. 8 €/day (~5000 CFA/day)
- tour driver: approx. 6 €/day (~3000-4000 CFA/day)
- local guide: approx. 5 €/day or per visit (~3000 CFA)
- restaurant staff: 1 €/person/meal (~500 CFA)
- bag porters: 1 €/bag (500 CFA)

(all tips should be offered in local currency)

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Mali Tour Clothing : What to wear

In West Africa, clothing is adapted to the climate, so you will see local people wearing loose and light items, and it is a good idea to follow this lead. Men and women can wear bermuda shorts, but it is best to cover the thighs, down to the knees; women should avoid any tight-fitting items.

Cotton and other natural fabrics are more comfortable in this climate than man-made fibers. You should pack a light jacket or sweater for the months of December or January, especially for Timbuktu or for any camping nights. And a rain jacket or umbrella might be handy during the rainy months of August and September; during the high season of November-February, it is unlikely that you will see a drop of rain.

For protection against malaria and/or other mosquito-borne disease, we recommend wearing long trousers and long-sleeve shirts in the evening hours.

Tip: In Mali as in other Muslim countries, better to err on the side of modesty; off the playing field, shorts are considered childrens' wear.

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Luggage

Soft luggage is preferred over trunks or hard-sided suitcases. Luggage allowance on flights to/from the US and Europe is normally two bags of up to 70 pounds (32 kgs) each, for each ticket holder. But on domestic flights in Mali the baggage allowance is 15 kilograms (33 pounds) per person, plus one small carry-on item; you will need to pay excess baggage fees for anything over that amount.

Tip: Always use locks on your luggage.

Tip: Do not place medications in your checked luggage, which can be lost or delayed; always keep medications in your carry-on bag.

 

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Packing : What to Bring

Tip: Make photocopies of your passport (the ID page and the Mali visa page) and your airline tickets; obviously you should carry these separately from the real items.

Tip: If you require a hair dryer or travel iron, you'll need to bring your own, as they are not available in the hotels.

Tip: Disposable razors are more convenient than electric ones.

Suggested packing list:

• clothing should consist of cotton summer items, plus a sweater or windbreaker for cool evenings, especially in Timbuktu; don't forget a swimsuit, as some hotels have swimming pools
• it's highly unlikely that you'll see a drop of rain from November through March
• white clothes (e.g. t-shirts) get pretty dirty, pretty fast; you'll feel cleaner, longer, with light colored clothing
• a bandana or large scarf to cover your head, mouth and nose; for windy days
• a hat to provide good sun protection
• sunglasses are practically indispensable—store them in a hard case
• a flashlight (torch), for when the power fails; headlamps are particularly useful for campers
• you may do quite a bit of walking, so good walking shoes are a must; these need not be hiking boots
• sandals are good for relaxing or when driving
• rubber flip flops are ideal for campers, when utilizing outdoor showers; they can be purchased locally for about $1
• if you require a good pillow for a good night's sleep, you should bring your own travel pillow; the hotels do provide pillows but they are sometimes hard and small
• toilet paper is not always available and it is worth the space it takes up in your luggage
• campers should definitely bring a towel
• do bring your own shampoo as there won't be any samples in the hotels
• hand-sanitizer (keep it handy)
• contact lenses can be problematic in this dusty climate; glasses are more practical; keep them stored in a hard case
• a money belt
• a small back pack
• padlocks for luggage
• safety pins, needle and thread
• bring a sufficient supply of film, cassettes and appropriate batteries for your photography and filming needs, as you may not find these items locally
• a small travel alarm clock, with fresh batteries
• a pocket dictionary of French phrases may be handy
• a medical kit (see the health section above)
• sports bars, dried fruit, trail mix, etc., if you like to snack; do not bring chocolate, it will melt
• you should bring all toiletries (including soap, shampoo, and feminine hygiene products) that you will likely need

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MALI WEATHER

Three main seasons which vary according to latitude. Rainy season runs between June and October, diminishing further north. The cooler season (October to February) is followed by extremely hot, dry weather until June.

Required Clothing
Lightweight cottons and linens are worn throughout most of the year,though warmer clothing is needed between November and February.Waterproofing is advised during the rainy season.

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MALI FOOD & DINING

There is a limited choice of restaurants. Several of the hotels have restaurant and bar facilities of international standard, serving international cuisine, and most towns have small restaurants serving local and north African dishes. Hotel restaurants are open to non-residents. Alcohol is available in bars (with very late opening hours), but since the majority is Muslim, there is a good range of fresh fruit juices. Most people tend to drink fruit juice rather than alcohol.

National specialties:

• La Capitaine Sangha (a kind of Nile perch served with hot chilli sauce, whole fried bananas and rice).
• National drinks:
• Malian tamarind and guava juices are delicious.
• A traditional drink is Malian tea which should be drunk in three stages; the first is very strong (‘as bitter as death’); the second is slightly sweetened (‘just like life’); the third is well sugared (‘as sweet as love’). Visitors to Mali may be invited to partake in this tea ritual.
• Tipping: A 10 per cent tip is customary in restaurants and bars, but is not normal for taxi drivers. Porters receive XOF100 per piece of luggage.

Nightlife Bamako has a good selection of nightclubs with music and dancing.

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	Passport Required?	Visa Required?	Return Ticket Required?
EUROS	Yes	Yes	Yes
SWISS	Yes	Yes	Yes
BRITISH	Yes	Yes	Yes
USA	Yes	Yes	Yes
AUSTRALIAN	Yes	Yes	Yes
CANADIAN	Yes	Yes	Yes

Passports Passport valid for at least six months from date of entry required by all nationals of countries referred to in the chart above. Visas Required by all nationals of countries referred to in the chart above, except the following, for stays of up to three months: (a) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft within 24 hours provided holding onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport. Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see General Info). Types of Visa and Cost Tourist, Business and Transit: single entry: US$80 (three months); multiple entry: US$110 (three months); US$200 (six months); US$370 (one year). The fee for nationals of the USA is US$100, regardless of the length of stay. Validity One month from the date of entry, although visas can be extended in Mali, either in Bamako at the Immigration Service or at any police station. Visas may be obtained up to three months in advance of traveling to Mali. Working Days Required Five. Visas can be issued more quickly (in three days) for an additional fee of US$10. Warning Travelers are advised against all travel to the north of Timbuktu, the western border area with Mauritania and the eastern border with Niger, due to banditry. You should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners. This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organizations for the latest travel advice:

Consulate (or consular section at embassy);

1900 L Street NW Washington DC 20036 USA Telephone (+001)202 332 2249 Fax (+001) 202 332 6603 www.maliembassy.us	89, Rue du Cherche-Midi Paris 75006 FRANCE Telephone +33 1 45 48 58 43 Fax +33 1 45 48 55 34 www.amba-mali.fr
Mali Consulate 111 E. 69th Street New York NY 10021 USA Telephone (+001) 212 737 4150 / 794 1311	Mali Embassy ('Botschaft Mali ') Kurfürstendamm 72 10709 Berlin GERMANY Telephone: (+49) 3031 99883 ambmali@01019freenet.de
Via Antonio Bosio 2 00161 Rome , ITALY Telephone 0039 06 4425 4068 Fax (+439) 06 4425 4029 amb.malirome@tiscalinet.it	487, Avenue Moliere 1060 Brussels BELGIUM Telphone +32 2 345 7432 or 7589 Fax +32 2 344 57 00 ambassade.mali@skynet.be a.mali@caramail.com
14, Rue du Rhone 1204 Geneva SWITZERLAND Telephone (+412) 2 819 1795 Fax (+412) 2 819 1996	Mali Consulate (honorary) Spalengerg 25, BP 1204 CH-4001 Bale, SWITZERLAND Telephone (061) 295 38 88 Fax (061) 295 38 89 www.maliconsulat.ch
Mali Consulate 64 Rue Pelleport 75020 Paris FRANCE Telephone +33 1 48 07 85 85 Fax +33 1 48 07 85 85 www.consulat-mali.fr contact@consulat-mali.fr	Mali Consulate (honorary) 47 Rue de la Paix 13001 Marseille FRANCE Telephone +33 04 91 33 76 30 Fax +33 04 54 19 91
Mali Consulate (honorary) 29 Allées des Chartes 33000 Bordeaux FRANCE Telephone +33 05 56 00 82 82 Fax +33 05 56 81 51 76	Mali Consulate (honorary) 8 Rue du Professeur Grignard 69007 Lyon FRANCE Telephone +33 04 78 72 96 99 +33 04 72 72 96 99
Mali Consulate Pakhus12, Amerikajak, Dampfaergevej 10 2100 Copenhagen , DENMARK Tel 3526 6059 Fax 3526 6084 jg@ghananordic.dk
Mali Consulate 38 Kapodistriou St. Athens 10432 GREECE Tel 210 524 5520 Fax 210 523 6748 Tel/Fax (0030 210) 756 7195	Mali Consulate , CYPRUS Odos P. Katelari, 21; Libra House P.O. Box 5001 , Lefkosia Tel (02) 466766 Fax (02) 448777
50 Avenue Goulburn Ottawa , Ontario K1N 8C8 CANADA Tel. (+613) 232 1501 or 1502 or 3264 Fax (613) 232 7429 Website: www.ambamalicanada.org email: ambassadedumali@rogers.com	Consulate of the Republic of Mali Suite 6 / 29 Ord street West Perth 6005 AUSTRALIA Tel/Fax: +61 8 9486 7016 Mob: 0417326447 Email: perth@mali.org.au Website: www.mali.org.au
Tokyo , JAPAN Telephone +81 3 3705 3437 / +81 3 3705 3433 Fax +81 3 3705 3489 www.ambamali-jp.org	11 Novokuzvetskaya Moscow , RUSSIA Telephone (+709) 5 231 0655 / 230 2985 Fax (+709) 5 230 2889
Dakar , SENEGAL Résidence Fanne Dakar Corniche N? 23 Telephone (221) 824 62 50 / 824 62 52 Fax (221) 825 94 71 ambamali@sentoo.sn	2569 Avenue BassaWarga Ouagadougou 01, BURKINA FASO Telephone (226) 38 19 22 Fax (226) 38 19 23
46 Boulevard Lagunaire Abidjan , IVORY COAST Telephone (225) 20 32 31 47 Fax (225) 20 21 55 14	1st Bungalow Liberia Road Accra , GHANA Telephone (233 21) 666942 / 775160 / 666423 / 775939
Rue D1-15, Camayenne Corniche Nord Conakry , GUINEA Telephone (224) 46 14 18 Fax (224) 46 37 03	B.P 5371 Nouakchott , MAURITANIA Telephone (222) 254078 Fax (222) 254983/84
Mali Consulate BP 10115, Niamey , NIGER Tel/Fax (227) 75 42 90 / 75 41 88 www.gsi-niger.com/consulat-mali/	BP 05, Bir Mourad Rais ALGERIA Telephone (213) 2154 72 14 Fax (213) 2154 7274
Plot 465 Wuse Zone 1 Nouakchott Street , Abuja , NIGERIA Tel 2349 523 0494 Fax 2349 523 8546	Mali Consulate, SIERRA LEONE 40 Wilkinson Road Freetown , Sierra Leone Tel (+232) 22 231782 / 230591
111 Infotech Building, 1090 Arcadia Street Hatfield 0083 Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA Telephone 002712 342 0676 Fax 002712 342 0670 Email: malipta@iafrica.com	58 Cite OLM Ext-Streissi II Rabat , MOROCCO Tel (00212) 3775.9125 / 3775.9121 Fax (0212) 3775.4742

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MALI HEALTH RECCOMMENDATIONS

All travelers should visit either their personal physician or a travel health clinic 4-8 weeks before departure. Malaria: Prophylaxis with Lariam, Malarone, or doxycycline is recommended for all areas. Vaccinations: Hepatitis A Recommended for all travelers Typhoid Recommended for all travelers Yellow fever Required for all travelers greater than one year of age Meningococcus Recommended during the dry season (November through June) Polio One-time booster recommended for any adult traveler who completed the childhood series but never had polio vaccine as an adult Hepatitis B For travelers who may have intimate contact with local residents, especially if visiting for more than 6 months Rabies For travelers who may have direct contact with animals and may not have access to medical care Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) Two doses recommended for all travelers born after 1956, if not previously given Tetanus-diphtheria Revaccination recommended every 10 years Inoculation regulations can change at short notice. Please take medical advice in the case of doubt. Where 'Sometimes' appears in the table above, precautions may be required, depending on the season and region visited. Medical facilities are very limited and inadequate for dealing with emergencies. Health insurance (including adequate medical evacuation) is therefore essential. Many medicines are unavailable, and doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash payment for health care services. Note: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required by all travelers over one year of age arriving from all countries. Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to Mali. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. There was, for instance, a recent outbreak in the Segou district, central Mali. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination, as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. Typhoid is widespread and appropriate precautions should be taken. Polio is endemic. Malaria, mainly in the malignant falciparum form, is present all year throughout the country. Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine has been reported. The recommended prophylaxis is mefloquine.

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MALI TRAVEL TIPS

Social Conventions

Malians are hospitable people and will welcome visitors gracefully into their homes. Visitors must remember that this is a Muslim country and the religious customs and beliefs of the people should be respected. Modesty in dress, particularly for women, is essential. Photography: This is no longer restricted, except for military subjects. However, interpretation of what is considered off limits tends to vary. Other subjects may be considered sensitive from a cultural or religious point of view and it is advisable to obtain permission before taking photographs in Mali.

International Travel:

Getting There by Air

Mali’s national airline is Air Mali (L9). Mali also has a share in the multinational airline, Air Afrique (RK).

Departure Tax

XOF10,000; for destinations in Africa XOF8,000. Children under 2 years and transit passengers continuing their journey by same flight are exempt.

Main Airports

Bamako (BKO) is 15km (9 miles) from the city (journey time – 20 minutes). A bus service into the city is available.

Getting There by Rail

There is a service from Bamako to Dakar (Senegal) which has air conditioning, sleeper facilities and restaurant cars (journey time – 35 hours). It will also carry cars. There are also plans to extend rail links into Guinea.

Getting There by Road

The best road connections are from Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. There are also road links with Senegal, Guinea, Niger and Mauritania. The all-weather road follows the Niger as far as Niamey (Niger). Travel via the Algerian border is currently considered dangerous and not recommended.

Bus: Services operate from Kankan (Guinea) to Bamako, as well as from Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina Faso) to Ségou and Mopti, and Niamey (Niger) to Gao. From Côte d’Ivoire, there are three buses per week (journey time – at least 36 hours). From Niger, the national bus line SNTN operates buses to Mali.

Overview

The following items may be imported into Mali without incurring customs duty:

1000 cigarettes or 250 cigars or 2kg of tobacco; two bottles of alcoholic beverage; a reasonable amount of perfume for personal use.

(a) Cameras and films must be declared. An import permit is needed for sporting guns. Plants, except fruit and vegetables, need a certificate. (b) Authorization from the National Museum in Bamako must be obtained when exporting certain Malian archaeological objects, particularly those from the Niger River Valley.

Internal Travel:

Getting Around By Air

Some domestic flights are provided by Air Mali. Light aircraft can also be chartered from the Société des Transports Aériens (STA).

Getting Around by Water

Between July and December, there are weekly services between Bamako and Gao via Timbuktu along the River Niger. However, because of drought in the Sahel desert, services are sometimes suspended. The journey is approximately 1300km (800 miles) and takes five or six days. Between December and March, travel is only possible between Mopti and Gao. Food is available on the boats and first-class cabins can be booked in advance. Motorised and non-motorized pirogues and pinasses (types of river boat) are available for hire between Timbuktu and Mopti. Since the completion of the Manantali Dam in 1988, work has continued to improve the navigability of the River Senegal.

Getting Around by Rail

There is a daily service from Bamako to Kayes, en route to Dakar on the Senegal coast. There are two trains, one Malian and one Senegalese – the Senegalese train is far superior, with air conditioning and buffet car. The railway line is Mali’s most important method of transport, over and above the road link. There is also a daily service from Bamako to Koulikoro.

Getting Around by Road

Traffic drives on the right. Roads in Mali range from moderate to very bad. Particular care should be taken if driving in Bamako. The main road runs from Sikasso in the south to Bamako, and to Mopti and Gao. The roads from Bamako to Mopti, Douentza, Koutiala, Sikasso and Bougouni, along with a few other roads, are paved. Between Mopti and Gao, travel can be difficult during the rainy season (mid-June to mid-September) when the Niger, at its confluence with the Bani, splits into a network of channels, and floods its banks to form the marshlands of the Macina. Stops at customs and police checkpoints are frequent on major roads and driving is particularly hazardous after dark. Bus: Services run between the main towns. Documentation: International Driving Permit recommended, although not legally required. Insurance and a carnet de passage are also needed.

Note:

Visitors are advised to keep to the main roads, otherwise they should travel in convoy. Caution should be exercised when traveling at night. Visitors should be aware of the recent violent incidents which have occurred in northern Mali and the Mauritanian border.

Getting Around Towns and Cities

Taxi: Collective taxis in cities are very cheap. The taxis charge a standard fare regardless of the distance traveled. Tipping is not expected.

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SHOPPING

Traditional crafts range from the striking masks of the Bambara, Dogon and Malinko peoples, to woodcarvings, original designs in ebony and bronze, woven cloth, and mats, gold and silver jewelry and copperware. Excellent pottery is made in the Ségou region, while Timbuktu is a good center for iron and copper articles, including swords, daggers and traditional household utensils.

Currency Information:

Currency

CFA (Communauté Financière Africaine) Franc (XOF) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of XOF10,000, 5,000, 2,000 and 1,000. Coins are in denominations of XOF500, 200, 250, 100, 50, 25, 10 and 5.

Mali is part of the French Monetary Area. Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bank of West African States) is valid; currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro.

Currency Exchange

Possible at main banks in Bamako, but this can be a slow process and exchange rates are often out of date.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted in two hotels in Bamako. Cash advances on credit cards are available at only one bank in Mali, the BMCD Bank in Bamako, and only with a Visa credit card.

Traveller's Cheques

Can be exchanged at banks. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in US Dollars or Euros.

Banking Hours

Mon-Thurs 0730-1200 and 1315-1500, Fri 0730-1230.

Exchange Rate Indicators

Date Apr 07

$1.00= XOF970.04

£1.00= XOF490.73

€1.00= XOF655.96

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MALI EVENTS & FESTIVALS

Mali has 2 events. Displaying 1-2.

Budapest-Bamako Rally (Finish)

Mali

The Budapest-Bamako (B2) was created in 2005 for thrill-seekers who wanted to experience the adventures and adrenaline rush of an intercontinental rally without forking out huge sums of money for the privilege. Participants enter one of three categories, racing, touring and, new for 2007, hitch-hiking. The event covers 7,632km (4,742 miles) in 15 days, passing through Hungary, Austria, Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, finishing in Bamako, capital of the Republic of Mali. Each year the event organisers support a different charity

Themes: Sport , Spectacle

Hours:

Cost: TBC

Where: Bamako

The rally finishes in Bamako - Mali

Contact Information:

Budapest-Bamako

No postal address available

Budapest

Hungary

Email: Contact via website

Website: www.budapestbamako.org/en

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Festival in the Desert
Tombouctou, Mali

Held since 2001, the Festival in the Desert has developed from a curiosity into a recognised event. Played out over three days in mid-January, it takes place near the small desert town of Essakane, near Tombouctou (Timbuktu). The festival format is cultural and traditional events during the day and, as the light fades, the desert is bathed in lights and the music begins. Robert Plant has appeared here but emphasis is given to Saharan and African music. The daytime events include exhibitions, camel rides and "tinde" songs by desert women. The festival has its origin in the ending of the Tamashek war in 1996, when there was a ceremonial burning of weapons and a festival of music and dance to mark the occasion

Themes: Dance , Music , Exhibitions

Hours:

Cost: TBC. 2006 prices: €119-€149

Where: Essakane village

At the desert village of Essakane, 96km (60 miles) northwest of Tombouctou

Tombouctou, Mali

Contact Information:

Festival au Desert

Contact via website

Essakane

Tombouctou

Mali

Email: agences@festival-au-desert.org

Website: www.festival-au-desert.org

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Overview

The largest country in West Africa, Mali is bordered on the North by Algeria, on the East and Southeast by Niger, on the South by Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire, and on the West by Guinea, Senegal, and Mauritania. In the south, traversed by the Niger and Senegal rivers, are fertile areas where peanuts, rice, and cotton are grown. Elsewhere the country is arid desert or semi desert. Although large swathes of Mali are barren, the country is self-sufficient in food thanks to the fertile Niger river basin in the south and east.

During the Middle Ages, the Moslem empire of Mali covered most of West Africa. For several centuries, Mali was a center of Islamic culture and prosperity. When Trans Saharan routes were in use by traders in olden days, Mali was a trading center and a tax collection point. The empires developed because of trade in gold and salt and other goods. Slaves were also transported along this route. Their control of the Trans-Saharan trade route was finally broken by European traders. By the end of the 19th century, France annexed the country, which became independent in 1960.

Today, Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world. But since 1992, when the country's first democratically elected president took power, Mali has had a civilian government.

Malians continue to draw a sense of national pride from the heritage of the Songay and Malian empires. Visitors can experience the way of living in the Sahara, enjoy the local tribes' songs and dances, and ride camels with the Tuaregs, the 'Blue Princes' of the desert. The hidden city of Timbuktu, the mythical gate of the Sahara, is the last wonder of Western explorers. This old city was a beehive of activity in its heydays in the past. By the 15th century, Timbuktu was a major trading center for salt and gold on the Trans-Saharan trade route. Later on it assumed the status of a great Islamic learning center. There are several beautiful mosques and tombs dating back to the 14th century. Bamako, the capital, is a modern city and the cultural center of Mali. The main places of interest are the markets, the Botanical Gardens, the Musée National, the zoo and the craft center at the Maison des Artisans.

Mali is also famous for its music and musicians from the days of the Mali Empire. The traditional music of Mali is based on the songs of the jalis (griots), a distinct caste of people in the social structure. Mali still maintains a key role in the contemporary African music scene.

Geography

Mali is a landlocked republic, sharing borders with Mauritania, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Niger and Senegal. It is a vast land of flat plains fed by two major rivers, the Senegal on its western edge and the great River Niger. On its journey north the Niger converges with the River Bani, and forms a rich inland delta, the marshlands of the Macina, stretching for some 450km (280 miles) along the river’s length, in some places 200km (124 miles) wide. The central part of the country is arid grazing land, called the Sahel, which has suffered great drought. At Timbuktu, the Niger reaches the desert and here it turns first to the east, then to the southeast at Bourem, where it heads for the ocean. In the desert, near the Algerian and Niger borders in the northeast, the Adrar des Iforas massif rises 800m (2625ft). The north of the country is true desert except for the few oases along the ancient trans-Saharan camel routes. Tuaregs still live around these oases and camel routes. Further south live the Peulh cattle-raising nomads. The majority of the population lives in the savannah region in the south. The peoples of this region comprise Songhai, Malinke, Senoufou, Dogon and the Bambara (the largest ethnic group).

Once one of the great centers of Islamic culture and wealth, Mali (which is among the continent’s most ancient states outside of North Africa) owes much of its reputation to its situation as a major trading center and to the tax that is levied on its trans-Saharan route. The Mali Empire reached its zenith under the rule of Mansa Musa in the early 14th century. Previously, it had been part of the empire of Ghana, which flourished between the seventh and 11th centuries based on the trade of gold from the interior for salt from the coastal regions. After the decline of the Mali Empire, the territory became part of the Songhai Empire, which occupied an area covering parts of modern-day Guinea, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Nigeria. Songhai was brought to an end and its territory usurped by the Moroccan invasion of 1591. With the decline of the trans-Saharan trading routes, the area enjoyed little strategic importance and was divided into small kingdoms for the next two centuries until the arrival of French colonists. Mali was absorbed into French West Africa in 1895. In 1960, together with what is now Senegal, it achieved independence as the Federation of Mali, although Senegal seceded after a few weeks.

The first President of the resulting Republic of Mali was Modibo Keita, who severed ties with France and developed strong links with the USSR. In 1967, however, hyper-inflation forced Mali to rejoin the Franc Zone. In 1968, a military coup overthrew Keita and power was assumed by the Military Committee for National Liberation (CMLN) under Lieutenant (later General) Moussa Traoré. In 1976, Traoré formed the sole legal political party, the Union Démocratique du Peuple Malien (UDPM), and began a slow civilianization of the administration. Frequent reshuffles and rapid personnel turnovers indicated the insecurity of the Traoré regime, which was the target of several attempted coups during its 23-year term. It was finally brought down in March 1991.

Another army officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Amadou Toumani Touré, assumed power at the head of the Conseil National de Réconciliation (CNR). Under pressure from France, the new regime organized a national conference to discuss a new constitution and provisionally set down a framework for elections and the withdrawal of the army from politics early in 1992. The agreed schedule was met and presidential elections were held in April of that year. Among several political parties formed around this time, the strongest was the Alliance pour la Démocratie au Mali (ADEMA). Under the leadership of university professor Alpha Oumar Konaré, ADEMA dominated Malian politics for the next 10 years: Konaré secured re-election in 1997 while ADEMA took firm control of the national assembly. The political environment was far from peaceful during the period of ADEMA rule. The country was beset by strikes, student protests and an almost unfathomable series of ‘breakaways’ and alliances within the multitude of political parties, as well as a revolving door of prime ministers, few of whom lasted more than a year. There was also the Tuareg problem. The Tuareg are nomadic people whose traditional territory spans eastern Mali, western Niger and the northern part of Burkina Faso. In the early/mid-1990s, the Tuareg’s livestock-based economy collapsed, mainly due to chronic drought, and a series of disputes followed between them and the rest of the population over land use. Serious fighting broke out on several occasions; in one instance, Algerian mediation (a measure of its seriousness) was called upon to produce a settlement. Mali is an Islamic country in which several strains of the faith co-exist. In the last few years, there have been occasional violent clashes between adherents of different branches of the religion.

In 2002, after a decade in the political wilderness, Amadou Toumani Touré, the former army officer who had seized power in 1991, returned to office. Backed by a newly-formed political party, Espoir 2002, he won a comfortable victory at the June presidential poll while his supporters took control of the national assembly. French approval quickly became evident when the bulk of Mali’s debt to France was cancelled within months of the election. Ex-president Alpha Konaré was appointed head of the African Union, the successor body to the Organization of African Unity.

Government

A new constitution allowing for presidential elections was introduced in 1992 and approved by a national referendum, after the overthrow of the military dictatorship by the Conseil National de Réconciliation. Executive power rests with the president who is elected for a five-year term. The president appoints a prime minister who, in turn, appoints a Council of Ministers. A 147-member National Assembly, also elected for five years, holds legislative powers.

Economy

Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world with an average per capita annual income of about US$470 (2006). The economy is almost entirely agricultural even though less than 2% of the land is cultivable. Livestock and subsistence crops such as millet, sorghum, maize and rice are raised for domestic consumption.

The main cash crop is cotton, of which Mali is one of Africa’s largest producers and exporters, along with groundnuts, fruit and vegetables. The Malian cotton industry, upon which one-third of the population depend for their livelihood, is in serious difficulty because of exceptionally low world prices, caused in part by subsidies provided to cotton growers in the industrialized world (in 2003, this was the subject of a major dispute at the World Trade Organization).

Local manufacturing has grown steadily, albeit from a very low level, and is mostly concerned with the processing of agricultural produce: food, drinks and tobacco are the main products. Construction materials are also produced locally. There is a small but fast-growing mining sector centered on Mali’s recently discovered gold deposits. Mali is now the third-largest gold producer in Africa after South Africa and Ghana. Marble, salt and phosphates are also being exploited; there are also known reserves of iron ore and uranium.

Much of the economy has been privatized and deregulated since 1997 under the supervision of the IMF with which Mali presently enjoys good relations. Mali has also been one of the main beneficiaries of the debt cancellation for the poorest countries, and it continues to rely on foreign aid and remittances from émigrés. Mali is a member of ECOWAS and various other West African multinational economic organizations.