Sartain

Mali's court system has a Supreme Court, a Constitutional Court, and lower courts. For purposes of local government, Mali is divided into eight regions and the District of Bamako.
 * **Major Government**

The main religon is muslum. followers or islam.A small percenage if people are Christan. The most common lanugage spoken is Mande. The Moors speak Arabicand the Tuareg use a berber lanugage. In 2002, Amadou Toumani Toure was elected president he was president till 2007 then relected.
 * **Major Religions**
 * **Languages Spoken**
 * **Current leader or president**

During the middle 1800's, France tried to set up a colony in what is now Mali. But French troops met strong resistance from ethnic African groups and did not gain control of the area until 1895. In 1904, the colony, then called French Sudan, became part of French West Africa. In 1946, France gave French Sudan the status of a territory in the French Union.Keita was Mali's first president. The official currency in Mali is the West African CFA Franc (XOF), which is divided into 100 centimes.
 * **Brief history of the country including any important people and major war**
 * **Currency**
 * **Major cultural traditions (holidays/foods etc..)**

Muslims in Mali celebrate the traditional Islamic festivals. At Id al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, large communal prayers at mosques around the country are followed by celebration. The girls and women dance in some regions there are masking performances, which may include dance and song, celebratory holdovers from pre-Islamic times. Mali has Maouloud, the anniversary and the birthday of Muhammad, a civil holiday, and most Muslims return to their home villages to celebrate. On Tabaski Malian Muslims make efforts to see that no one goes hungry. Wealthier believers sacrifice many cows, sheep, and goats and distribute the meat to the less fortunate.


 * **Climat**

Southern and western Mali have a Sudanese climate a rainy season from June to September. Rainfall averages 140 cm (55 in) at Sikasso in the far south. To the north is the Sahelian zone, a semiarid region along the southern border of the Sahara. At Gao, in Mali's northeast Sahel, rainfall is about 23 cm (9 in) a year. Actual year-to-year rainfall, however, is extremely erratic. In the Sahelian zone there are considerable variations of temperature, especially in April, May, and June, the period of maximum heat, and in December, when the hot, dry harmattan blows. Continuing north, one gradually enters into a Saharan climate, marked by the virtual absence of rain and an extremely dry atmosphere. Over 40% of the country is desert, and unsuitable for agriculture.


 * **Population**

The Mandinka is most of the population. There are three major Mandinka subgroups—the Bambara, Malinke, and Soninke. The Fulani make up about 15 percent of the population. Other large ethnic groups in Mali include the Dogon, Songhai, and Voltaics.


 * Geography**

Gold, phosphate, kaolin, salt, and limestone, deposits of bauxite, iron ore, manganese, lithium, and uranium are known or suspected. Agriculture, livestock, and fishery. Products—millet, sorghum, corn, rice, livestock, sugar, cotton, peanuts, and tobacco.
 * **Major Resources**
 * **Major tourist attractions and or historical sights**
 * One historical site is Niger river another is** The **Great Mosque of Djenné** it is the largest mud brick building in the world and is seen by many people.
 * **Median Family Income**
 * The family income for Mali is $380**

[|CX3437900167&docType=GALE&role|http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar340220&st=mali][|CX3437900167&docType=GALE&role|__http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=RELEVANCE&inPS=true&prodId=GVRL&userGroupName=east86091&tabID=T003&searchId=R1&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=BasicSearchForm&currentPosition=1&contentSet=GALE%7CCX3437900167&&docId=GALE|CX3437900167&docType=GALE&role__] http://www.wordtravels.com/Travelguide/Countries/Mali/Currency world book inc.world book L ,12. Chicago:Scott Fetzer company,2008 http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mali/great-mosque-of-djenne.htm
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