(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/53625000/gif/_53625271_mali.gif)
The landlocked West African country of Mali - one of the poorest in the world - has experienced rapid economic growth since the 1990s.
• Full name: The Republic of Mali
• Population: 13.3 million (UN, 2010)
• Capital: Bamako
• Area: 1.25 million sq km (482,077 sq miles)
• Major languages: French, Bambara, Berber, Arabic
• Major religions: Islam, indigenous beliefs
• Life expectancy: 50 years (men), 51 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc = 100 centimes
• Main exports: Cotton, gold, livestock
• GNI per capita: US $680 (World Bank, 2009)
• Internet domain: .ml
• International dialling code: +223
For several decades after independence from France in 1960, Mali suffered droughts, rebellions, a coup and 23 years of military dictatorship. But since its first democratically-elected president took power in 1992, it has had a civilian government and enjoyed relative political stability.
The core of ancient empires going back to the fourth century, Mali was conquered by the French in the middle of the 19th century.
In 1958 it was proclaimed the Sudanese Republic and the following year it became the Mali Federation, after uniting with Senegal. However, Senegal seceded and Mali became independent in 1960.
BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13881370)