Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Mali conventional short form: Mali local long form: Republique de Mali local short form: Mali former: French Sudan and Sudanese Republic
Data code: ML
Government type: republic
Capital: Bamako
Independence: 22 September 1960 (from France)
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which was formally established on 9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Cheick Oumar DIARRAH chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950 FAX: [1] (202) 332-6603
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael RANNEBERGER embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako telephone: [223] 22 54 70 FAX: [223] 22 37 12
Economy
Economy - overview: Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with 65% 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 is nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid and vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main export. In 1997, the government continued its successful implementation of an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program that is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign investment. Mali's adherence to economic reform, and the 50% devaluation of the African franc in January 1994, has pushed up economic growth. Several multinational corporations increased gold mining operations in 1996-98, and the government anticipates that Mali will become a major Sub-Saharan gold exporter in the next few years. Annual growth should remain in the 5-6% range in 2000-01, and inflation should drop under 3%.
Population below poverty line: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1999 est.)
Industries: minor local consumer goods production and food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 17,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic system poor but improving; provides only minimal service domestic: network consists of microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communications stations; expansion of microwave radio relay in progress international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 7 (1998)
Radios: 570,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus two repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 45,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
Transportation
Railways: total: 729 km (linked to Senegal's rail system through Kayes) narrow gauge: 729 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways: total: 15,100 km paved: 1,827 km unpaved: 13,273 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,815 km navigable
Ports and harbors: Koulikoro
Airports: 28 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 22 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)
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