Mali case study

• Mali is the 26th largest country in the world.
• Mali has straight borders due to its colonial legacy.
• Mali is landlocked, which makes trade difficult.
• Mali experiences a North-South contrast.
• The Tuareg dominates the north of Mali.
• Mali's colonial legacy has led to the division of Tuareg lands.
• There is separatist pressure for the Awazad region in Mali.
• Mali's exports include Gold, cotton, lumber.
• Mali's rural areas have 8.5% electricity, 33% water, 11.5% paved roads, 48% clinics.
• Mali's urban areas have 86% electricity, 92.5% water, 84% paved roads, 89% clinics.
• Mali has faced challenges to sovereignty and territorial integrity due to the entire government being replaced due to conflict, receiving support from French, UN and neighbouring countries, and ethnic tensions.
• Mali has faced challenges to sovereignty and territorial integrity due to revolt, neglected rural groups, jihadist and tuareg- uprising, and wanting to restore their version of Islamic law.
• Ansar Dine took over the rebellion in Mali.
• Mali is facing a humanitarian crisis in the Sahel due to drought impacting millions.
• Mali has a UN peacekeeping mission, the largest in the world, known as MINUSMA, which is charged with ensuring security, stabilization and protection of civilians, supporting national political dialogue and reconciliation, and assisting the reestablishment of State authority, the rebuilding of the security sector, and the promotion and protection of human rights in that country.
• Mali has faced challenges to sovereignty and territorial integrity due to the military resources being sparse, with Canadian troops being deployed to help.
• Canada has been in Mali since 2006.
• In January 2013, France launched operation Serval in Mali, which led to the French being the largest overseas operation with a 600M budget per year and counterterrorism as a priority.
• The United States has a Pan-sahel initiative and a Trans saharan counterterrorism initiative in Mali.
• The European Union has a training mission in Mali and a capacity assistance training program for migration.
• Mali has opportunities for stability if the UN peacekeeping mission can be successful, the full implementation of the 2015 Algiers Peace Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali can be achieved, and there is progress in addressing regional inequalities.
• There are constant high levels of human rights abuses in Mali.
• The new Chinese railway in Mali will create inequalities by making the South of the Country more connected and better able to trade with other countries.
• Mali is a primary product dependent country, exporting gold and cotton, but investment from the World Bank and the African Development bank is helping it to change.
• Over-coming gender inequalities in Mali will enable the country to develop.
• Of the $9.5 billion, $8 million is going to the construction of a 900-km railway connecting Bamako to the port capital of Conakry in Guinea.
• Climate change will adversely affect the North of Mali more than the South by making droughts more likely.
• Islamic State controlled areas in Mali increase gender inequality by further reducing the rights of women.
• Mali is one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
• Mali currently has crippling sanctions levied upon it for the civil unrest in the country.
• China has helped many African countries to look beyond the help of their former colonial masters and Mali is no exception.
• Women in Mali are poorly educated, have fewer rights and have a traditional role.
• In 2014 China signed a $11 billion investment deal with Mali, $9.5 billion of which is slated for railway construction and repairs.
• Children in Mali have been denied their childhood.
• Mali is facing continued and increasing inequality between rural and urban areas.
• Mali is a member of ECOWAS - the Economic Community of West African States.
• FDI from China into Mali has the potential to transform the Malian economy.
• In 2019, Dogon Militia men massacred 150 civilians in Ogossagou village.
• This could revolutionise Mali’s trading links with the rest of the world.
• There are large inequalities between men and women in Mali.