Research Library: Mali
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Last Updated Sep 26, 2006
Country Information
Government
- Mali's government is a republic, with a popularly elected president as head of state, who appoints the prime minister as head of government.
- Mali's current President, Amadou Toure, took office in 2002.
Political Stability
- Mali has had a troubled political history since its independence in 1960. A coup in 1991 ended three decades of military dictatorship and ushered in a democratic transition.
- Although there are no significant internal threats to stability, continued unrest in neighboring countries such as Cote d'Ivoire periodically threaten to spill over and create instability.
Current Government Policies
- Mali continues to face severe drought conditions, which have eroded its grazing land and reduced its export crops. Currently 65% of Mali's land area is desert or semi-desert, severely limiting the availability of agricultural land.
- Mali's government continues to work closely with the IMF to restructure its economy. These efforts have produced an average 5% growth rate over the past decade, but inequality remains extremely high and most Malians (80%) continue to be engaged in agricultural production.
International Reputation
- Mali's different ethnic populations live together harmoniously, and Mali is not involved in any external disputes.
- Mali's adherence to IMF economic conditions has boosted its international reputation among international investors. However, this has not led to significant investment in the economy.
Economics
- Mali's efforts to diversify and grow its economy have been moderately successful, with an average growth rate of 5% annually between 1996-2005. Drought conditions caused a temporary drop in GDP in 2001-02, however.
- As part of the Franc Zone in Africa, Mali has been able to maintain a moderately stable economy due to economic ties to France. However, heavy reliance on commodity exports (primarily cotton, gold, and livestock) has left the economy very vulnerable to shifts in demand and international prices.
Foreign Aid
Statistics
Click on statistic name for source information.
Web Resources
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