Mali Country & Tourist Information

Location
Central West Africa.

Area
1,240,192 sq km (478,841 sq miles).

Population
13.8 million (UN estimate 2005).

Population Density
11.1 per sq km.

Capital
Bamako.
Population: 1.2 million (UN estimate 2003).

Government
Republic. Gained independence from France in 1960. 

Language
The official language is French. There are a number of local languages.

Religion
Majority Muslim, with indigenous and Christian minorities.

Time
GMT.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. Larger towns in Mali have their own locally-generated supply. European-style plugs with two circular metal pins are used. 

Head of Government
Prime Minister Ousmane Issoufi Maïga since 2004.

Head of State
President Amadou Toumani Touré since 2002.

Recent History
The Republic of Mali, under President Modibo Keita, gained full independence from France in 1960. Keita was victim of a coup in 1968 after which Mali was ruled by Moussa Traoré until 1991. Anti-government protests in 1991 led to a coup, and a new constitution. In 1992, Alpha Oumar Konaré won Mali’s first democratic, multiparty presidential election. Upon re-election in 1997, President Konaré pushed through political and economic reforms and fought corruption. In 2002 he was succeeded in democratic elections by Amadou Toumani Touré, a retired general who had been the leader of the military aspect of 1991 democratic uprising.

Telephone
Country code: 223. Outgoing international calls must be made via the international operator. These are expensive and collect calls cannot be made from Mali.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with several international mobile phone companies. Coverage is limited to main towns.

Internet
There is an Internet cafe in Bamako. Some hotels offer access.

Media
Mali’s broadcast and print media are among the most free in Africa.

Post
International post is limited to main towns and the central post office. Airmail to Europe takes approximately two weeks.

Press
• National dailies include L’Aurore, Le Republicain and L’Essor which is state owned.
• L’Independent and Info Matin are both privately owned.
• Les Echos is another daily.

Radio
• Office de la Radiodiffusion Television du Mali (ORTM) is the public broadcaster.
• Commercial radio stations include Radio Patriote, Radio Liberté and Radio Kledu.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
20 Jan Armed Forces' Day.
9 Mar Mawloud (Prophet's Birthday).
10 Apr Easter Monday.
26 Mar Day of Democracy.
1 May Labor Day.
25 May Africa Day.
22 Sep Independence Day.
21 Sep Korité (End of Ramadan). 
28 Nov Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
20 Jan Armed Forces' Day.
26 Feb Mawloud (Prophet's Birthday).
5 Apr Easter Monday.
26 Mar Day of Democracy.
1 May Labor Day.
25 May Africa Day.
22 Sep Independence Day.
11 Sep Korité (End of Ramadan). 
17 Nov Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Note
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Korité (Eid al-Fitr), Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Korité itself. Korité and Tabaski (Eid al-Adha) may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Contact Information:

Office Malien du Tourisme et de l'Hôtellerie (Tourist Office of Mali)
Street address: rue Mohamed V, Bamako, Mali
Postal address: BP 191, Bamako, Mali
Tel: 222 5673.
Website: www.officetourisme-mali.com

Embassy of the Republic of Mali in Belgium
Avenue Molière 487, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: (02) 345 7432.
Fax: (02) 344 5700.

Embassy of the Republic of Mali in the USA
2130 R Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 332 2249.
Website: www.maliembassy.us


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