Mali
In the past two centuries Mali has been among African that reached their independences and took their political and economic destiny in his hand. Situated on the edge of the river Niger in West Africa, Mali is a country relatively big with 1,240,192 sq. km more than 15 million citizens. Mali is a developing country, with 65% of its land area in desert or semi-desert. Economic activity is limited mainly around the river area irrigated by the Niger River. Approximately 10% of the population is nomadic and some 80% work in agriculture or fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated around agricultural activities”. Immigration is a very large extra income. (CiA.GOV). Mali obtained its independence in 1960, known its first military in 1968 before to become democratic in 1992. Its economic aspect is endanger because of the instability politic and military that shook the country in the beginning of this year
The beginning of the twentieth century was marked by relative financial autonomy given to colon. The World War II was an opportunity after their implication of colonies to fight Hitler and Nazi from France, the colon especially general DEGAULLE promised to give away independence. In 1960 Mali negotiate its independence from France. In June 20th 1960 Mali and Senegal declare the independence under a federation in hope to start African Union. The dream was broken two months later. In august 20th 1960 the Senegal declared its independence and so is Mali in September 22th 1960.
The late President was Modibo Keita who had great political and economic perspective for the future of the country. He ruled from 1960 to 1968 through which he created thirtieth factories put Malian to work after the independence. He adhere Mali to the regional, continental (African), and international institutions. We can cite the adhesion of Mali to the African Bank of Development, International Financial Corporation and ECOWAS and UEMOA.
Mali concentrated on economic development, continuing to accept aid from Soviet bloc and Western nations, as well as international agencies. The most important is Office of Niger. Based on the official websites define the circumstance of its creation as (Direction) “The Office du Niger is the oldest irrigated areas of West Africa and one of the largest. Arranged from the 1930s in the inland delta of the Niger River, he had become, according to the first projects developed, the main supplier of cotton textile industries of colonial France, the rice granary of West Africa and a place of social and technical innovations. The goals were ambitious with nearly one million hectares to be developed in 50 years. Large structures have been designed and built to meet them. But the achievements remained well below target with in 1960/61 about 45,000 hectare landscaped with only 82% grown.” He (Modibo Keita) created Malian money in 1962 to guaranty the financial independence vis-à-vis of colon but needed the France treasure in 1968 to guaranty “Franc Malian”. After the signature of an agreement the “Franc Malien” is devalued at 50%. Another page of Mali is turned in November 19th 1968. The government is Modibo Keita's government is overthrown by a committee of military guide by Lieutenant Moussa Traore. As a result the country failed to a dictatorship for twenty three years during which the country faces a total regression on every level.
Being a military trained for war, the President Moussa Traore proceeded to the systematic elimination of his former colleagues with whom he did the coup as well as all political leaders in order to enforce his power in the nation. The country's economy will quickly degrade and it is hit by drought in 1972. According the former President Alpha Oumar Konare “Mali is hit by a drought with almost 2 million disaster victims, 40% of livestock destroyed, and a cereal deficit with more than 400,000 tons.” (Konare, 1983). This drought will be an element of the shutter button Tuareg rebellion that was asleep after the first one in 1968. More exposed to the drought the tuaregs believed they been abandoned by Mali. But the drought hit the whole Sahel. Thanks to the mobilization of the international community many victims survived. The production from Office du Niger fall, many Tuareg and nomads find refuge in Libya where they enroll into Kaddafi’s army. Mali was engaged in a military territorial war with Haute Volta the actual Burkina Faso from December 25th to 29th 1985. Mali was successful over Burkina after the final decision of the U.N.
After 23 years in power the regime of Moussa Traore is overthrown from the outcome of bloody popular revolution a part of the military led by Amadou Toumani Toure arrest Moussa Traore. Amadou Toumani Toure led the transition and organized the first democratic election in 1992 after which Alpha Oumar Konare is elected president. Mali signed a peace agreement with tuareg in 1995. Konaré won global admiration for his efforts to recover Mali's uncertain economy. His acceptance to International Monetary Fund rules increased foreign investment and helped make Mali the second-largest cotton producer in Africa. These economic reforms program required by IMF helped the growth and the devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 has sustained an average growth of 4%. Mali's second democratic national votes took place in May 1997, with President Konare winning reelection. Mali became an influent member of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States). The organization allows states to promote the economic integration created in 1975. Mali is also member of West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) under one currency guaranteed by France.
Little by little political stability was reinforcing and more investors were attempted to explore Mali’s economy. International companies have settled operations searching for gold. Diversification of foreign investment will allow the government to expect Mali to be a major exporter of gold in the sub-Saharan region. These expectations prove to be true because Mali is currently the third largest exporter in Africa behind South Africa and Ghana. Gold is the primary source of the country's export, followed by cotton and cattle. Mali is a good talking point with 60 mining exploration permits granted. Companies operating in Mali are truly multi-national with South Africa's Anglo American and Canada's IAMGOLD establishing the world-class Sadiola mine; and Randgold talking over the Syama mine from the Australian major BHP Minerals Mali Inc.
Mali depends on foreign aid and is very defenseless to instabilities in world prices for cotton, its main export. In June 2002 Amadou Toumani Toure was elected President, the leader of the military coup who put a stop to Moussa Traore’s regime and transited the country to democratic regime. In 2005 some Tuareg elements and member of Malian’s army went to the rebellion again. Another peace agreement is signed 2006 with the mediation of Algeria. Amadou Toumani Toure is reelected in 2007 with 68.3% of the popular vote.
Economic growth was around 5% between 1996 to 2010 while its national debt is over $2.652 billion in 31 December 2011 (CiA.GOV). When compare to the national GDP which is $17.88 billion 2011 shows a net budget deficit. These positives aspects of Malian’s economy are due to the globalization.
Indeed globalization is good thing for developing countries like Mali. Despite some mistake in the structural adjustment that forced developing countries governments to stop subsidizing Local Corporation and to privatize some sector of the economy in order to get International Monetary Fund and World Bank aid. There was no economic transition therefore many companies went bankrupt.
Anti-globalist uses that as argument to reject globalization when the real problem in developing is corruption. In 2003 the President Amadou Toumani Toure created a department of control called “VERIFCATEUR GENERAL”. Their mission is to audit the financial department of the country and report them to the President, the prime minister, and the President of the Assemble so they can seize the justice department. The audit showed more than $200 million loss of income every year without any attempt to arrest criminal.
Regarding major trading partners, the main importing country of Mali is Senegal with 13.1% in 2008 and is the largest exporter in China with 26.7% in 2008 (CiA.GOV). Apart from these countries, Mali has, as trading partners, France, Côte d'Ivoire, Belgium, Luxembourg, Britain and Germany. Numerous historical references attest to the existence of a potential mining in Mali such as oil, uranium, gas, etcetera. Mali has a trading deficit since its importation is more than its exportation. (CiA.GOV). As many places in the world China is having big impact in the evolution of Mali. China influence is undeniably positive for many reasons. Their products are affordable, diverse, and gainful for Mali. China helped Mali to build the third bridge in the capital with the aid of 70% from the Chinese government and 30% from the Malian government. The inauguration took place last year. Nevertheless China role is term of human right are not desired. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita was estimated at $ 1,100 in 2011.
Despite its land locking Mali has risen to the level of leading cotton producer in Africa south of the Sahara. It has the first sheep of cattle in the sub-region, ensuring sustainable food sufficiency normal rainfall year and caters to all their needs in dry cereal. With successes already recorded and compared to the existing potential, particularly in irrigated crops and livestock which remains to be developed. Mali has demonstrated that it can become the major agricultural sub-region.
Following the collapse of the cotton market in 2005, Malian farmers now produce at a loss. Farmers emerge margins more narrow and are forced to incur debt. CMDT (Malian Company for Textile Development) buys a kilogram of cotton 160 CFA francs, while producing the same 190 CFA kg costs. Mali, considering alternatives, but it is not easy to get out of the monoculture. Mali is a holder of several weaknesses, but there is among others repeated drought since the 1970s, the decline in raw materials produced, rising production costs and industry-developed, which generates a large import of goods consumption. Mali is also facing the problem of debt.
As the devaluation of the CFA franc (Currency), supposed to promote exports, it really split the value of domestic capital and therefore the capacity of national investment; Malian exports of processed products are primarily blocked by administrative barriers, not because of their price. In addition to cotton and its derivatives cotton seed, Mali is a major producer of mangoes 200,000 tons of which only a small portion is exported 3,000 tons, despite a huge potential.
Regarding real estate, Mali is under construction. There are many public and private projects in the areas of building and public works. The demand for building materials is growing very rapidly. Also, the following niches offer huge investment opportunities: brickworks, cement and lime manufacture of paints, gypsum production, manufacture of iron and other concrete, carpentry wood or metal for buildings, manufacturing electrical appliances (lights, switches, sockets, sleeves).

Tourism, still limited to a few areas, developed in recent years. These include the World Heritage Sites of UNESCO: Dogon Country, Timbuktu, Djenne, and the Tomb of Askia in GAO. These are abandoned by tourist and some of the sites have been desecrated in Timbuktu and GAO since the occupation by Islamists in July 2012.
Indeed in March 22nd 2012 Mali was shaken by another military coup one month before the election. The motif was the president did not provide adequate weapons to fight Tuareg and Islamists who came to the country heavily armed from Libya after the fall of Gaddafi regime. Besides these was the terrorist group of AQIM (Al Qaeda in Maghreb). The coup simplifies the failing of the northern Mali into these terrorist groups. Two weeks later the Islamists chase their former allies and are occupying that big territory two times the surface of France.
Because of the ECOWAS sanction international pressures, military hand over the power to civilian but they are still very influents. The president of the Assembly Dioncouda Traore is leading the transition. Last week the Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra was forced to resign by military because not doing anything for the army evoked the coup leader again.
As a result the U.S is calling for target sanction military for their interference in political business of the country. The terrorist menace in Mali is over Mali’s control. That’s why there is international military intervention in preparation with ECOWAS and African Union soldiers and in order to help Mali to recover and protect its north from fanatic and terrorist who are applying the Sharia law and kidnapping western citizen for ransoms. The resolution is voting next week by the United Nations Security Council in order to allow deployment of that force to free to northern Mali.
Mali main natural resources are agricultural products. The other is in industry and services. The production is mainly based on cereals which constitute the bulk of the food base. These grains are mainly millet, sorghum, rice, corn, and wheat. There are also some tubers such as yam, potato and cassava. Also mangoes and oranges are an important export to Europe and Arab countries. The unemployment rate is 30% with an annual budget of revenues: $2.16 billion in 2011 (CiA.GOV)
Today the political and economic future of Mali is so uncertain with a country split in half in north where innocent population is victim of Barbary and cultural resources destroying, and in the south with a growing political instability. Human right is dramatically down with arbitrary arrest of civilian and journalist in the south by military and the raping, killing, stealing, and destroying of Malian patrimony like Mausoleum. Negotiation is under way with Tuareg Rebel but the true is that the existence of Mali has never been in menace than right now.