Mali
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| République du Mali | |
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| Flag | Coat of Arms |
| Capital | Bamako |
| Government | Semi-presidential republic |
| Language | French (official) |
| President | Amadou Toumani Touré |
| Prime minister | Modibo Sidibé |
| Area | 478,839 sq. mi. |
| Population 2007 | 11,995,402 |
| GDP 2008 | $15.045 billion |
| GDP per capita | $1,126 |
| Currency | West African CFA franc |
The Republic of Mali is a largely-Muslim country located in West Africa. The legendary city of Timbuktu was once a center of trade and education. Ibn Battuta, a Muslim traveler who toured the Islamic regions of the world around 1352, wrote of his admiration of Mali. It thrived under strong rulers and the very active gold-salt trade across the Sahara. Trade was based on leopard skins, slaves, pepper, ivory, bronze, brass and copper.
The modern state of Mali - known as French Sudan until the country gained independence from France in 1960 - took its name from the former Kingdom. The capital city is Bamako.