Mali
Mali is a West African country located between Algeria and the Gulf of Guinea. It has an area of 479,245 square miles (1,241,238 km2) and a population of 21.7 million people (2022 estimate). Its capital is Bamako, and the majority of its inhabitants are Bambara, with other ethnic groups including the Fulani and the Imazighen (Berbers). French is Mali's official language, though Dogon, Bambara, Songhai, Soninke, Senufo, and Arabic are also spoken. Islam is the predominant religion, but traditional beliefs and Christianity are also practiced. The Malian currency is the CFA franc.
The landscape of Mali is primarily flat, with northern plains extending into the Sahara Desert. The upper Niger River basin is situated in the south, with around two-fifths of the Niger River flowing through Mali. Only a tiny portion of the country is considered arable land. Gold is Mali's most important mined resource, with other minerals such as iron ore, bauxite, and copper available but largely unexploited.
Agriculture forms the basis of the Malian economy, with staple crops like millet, sorghum, corn, and rice being produced as well as cash crops like cotton and peanuts. Mali is a multiparty republic with one legislative body and a president as head of state, while the prime minister serves as head of government.