République du Mali
- Republic of Mali
- Capital » Bamako
Facts
- Population » 18.5 million
- Major languages » Bambara, Bobo, Berber, Dogon, Minianka
- As of July 2023, French is no longer recognized as an official language
- Mali has some 70 local languages spoken in the country and some of them, including Bambara, Bobo, Dogon, and Minianka, were granted national language status under a 1982 decree.
- Religions » Islam, indigenous beliefs
- Life expectancy » 57 years (men), 84 years (women)
- Currency » Central African CFA Franc BEAC (XAF)
- CFA Franc (West XOF) = 100 Centimes
- Electricity » 220 Volt / 50 Hertz AC
Geography
- Area » 1.25 million sq km (482,077 sq miles)
- Landlocked, arid, located in West Africa.
- Most of the country lies in the southern Sahara Desert
- Mali borders Algeria to the north-northeast, Niger to the east, Burkina Faso to the south-east, Côte d’Ivoire to the south, Guinea to the south-west, and Senegal to the west and Mauritania to the north-west.
Maps
Tourism
- Great Mosque of Djenné » a large brick or adobe building in the Sudano-Sahelian architectural style. The mosque is located in the city of Djenné, on the flood plain of the Bani River.
Overland
- Much of Mali is a war zone and off limits (current as of 2023)
Foreign Embassies in Mali
- Canadian Embassy, Bamako (also responsible for Australia) » +223 20 21 2236
- South African Embassy, Bamako » +223 20 29 2925
- UK Embassy, Bamako » +223 2021 3412
- US Embassy, Bamako » +223 20 70 2300
Safety and Security
- Since 2019, Mali is considered to be one of the most dangerous countries for travellers.
- In February 2023 Mali voted against the UN resolution calling for an end to the war in Ukraine and calling on Russia’s immediate withdrawal from Ukraine.
- Mali was joined by Belarus, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Nicaragua, and Syria.
- Northern regions, including Timbuktu, Kidal, Gao, and Mopti, remains a dangerous region for Westerners to visit (April 2023)
Government Travel Advice for Mali
- Avoid all travel to Mali (including the capital, Bamako) Violent crime, such as kidnapping and armed robbery, is common in Mali. Violent crime is a particular concern during local holidays and seasonal events in Bamako, the capital, its suburbs, and Mali’s southern regions.
- Canada
- If the security situation in Mali deteriorates, the ability of the Embassy of Canada to Mali in Bamako to provide consular services may be limited.
- New Zealand
- Ireland
- Germany
- Australia
- UK
- USA (Map)
- Do not travel to Mali due to crime, terrorism, and kidnapping.
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This page was updated August 30, 2023