History of Mali in Timeline

Mali, officially the Republic of Mali, is a landlocked country in West Africa and the eighth-largest country in Africa. With an area of over 1,240,192 square kilometres, it is bordered by Algeria, Niger, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea, and Senegal. As of 2024, the population is estimated at 23.29 million, with a significant portion under the age of 15. Its capital and largest city is Bamako. The country recognizes 13 official languages, with Bambara being the most prevalent.

1905: French Control

By 1905, most of the area that is now Mali was under firm French control as part of French Sudan.

November 1915: Anti-French Uprising

In November 1915, a large anti-French uprising occurred among the tribes in the regions of present-day Mali and Burkina Faso.

September 1916: Suppression of Uprising

In September 1916, the last resistance of a large anti-French uprising was suppressed, during which over 100 villages were destroyed by French colonial troops.

November 1958: Autonomous Republic

On 24 November 1958, French Sudan (which changed its name to the Sudanese Republic) became an autonomous republic within the French Community.

January 1959: Mali Federation

In January 1959, Mali and Senegal united to become the Mali Federation.

June 1960: Independence from France

On 20 June 1960, the Mali Federation gained independence from France.

August 1960: Senegal Withdraws

In August 1960, Senegal withdrew from the Mali Federation.

September 1960: Republic of Mali

On 22 September 1960, the Sudanese Republic became the independent Republic of Mali; this date is now the country's Independence Day.

1960: Independence

In 1960, the Sudanese Republic formed a brief federation with Senegal, achieving independence. After Senegal's withdrawal, the Republic of Mali was established.

1960: Population of Mali

In 1960, the population of Mali was reported to be about 4.1 million.

1962: Connection with French Government

Since 1962 Mali is connected with the French government by agreement.

November 1968: Military Coup

On 19 November 1968, the Keïta regime was overthrown in a bloodless military coup led by Moussa Traoré, now commemorated as Liberation Day.

1968: Political Turmoil

From 1968 the Traoré regime made efforts to reform the economy, but his efforts were frustrated by political turmoil.

1968: Yambo Ouologuem's Prix Renaudot Win

Yambo Ouologuem's novel, Le devoir de violence, won the 1968 Prix Renaudot, but its legacy was marred by accusations of plagiarism.

1974: Devastating Drought

From 1968 to 1974, Mali experienced a devastating drought in which famine killed thousands of people.

1982: Mali's Population

In 1982, Mali's population was 7.7 million.

1988: Economic Reform Agreements Signed

In 1988, Mali began economic reform by signing agreements with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

1990: Opposition Movements

In 1990, cohesive opposition movements began to emerge, complicated by the rise of ethnic violence in the north.

January 1991: Student Protests

In January 1991, peaceful student protests were brutally suppressed, with mass arrests and torture of leaders and participants.

March 1991: Clash Between Military and Students

26 March 1991 marks the day of a clash between military soldiers and peaceful demonstrating students that climaxed in the massacre of dozens under the orders of Traoré, an event now commemorated as a national holiday.

March 1991: March Revolution

From 22 March through 26 March 1991, mass pro-democracy rallies and a nationwide strike were held in Mali, known as the March Revolution.

1991: Democratic Uprising

In 1991, Amadou Toumani Touré led the military aspect of the democratic uprising.

1991: Coup and New Constitution

In 1991, a coup led to a new constitution and the establishment of Mali as a democratic, multi-party state.

1991: Relaxation of Mining Codes

In 1991, with the assistance of the International Development Association, Mali relaxed the enforcement of mining codes which led to renewed foreign interest and investment in the mining industry.

January 1992: Constitution of Mali

On 12 January 1992, the Constitution of Mali was enacted, establishing a constitutional democracy.

1992: Implementation of Economic Adjustment Programme

Between 1992 and 1995, Mali implemented an economic adjustment programme that resulted in economic growth and a reduction in financial imbalances.

1992: First Democratic Election

In 1992, Alpha Oumar Konaré won Mali's first democratic, multi-party presidential election.

May 1995: Mali Joins World Trade Organization

Mali joined the World Trade Organization on 31 May 1995.

1996: Reform of Public Enterprises

During 1988 to 1996, Mali's government largely reformed public enterprises, resulting in sixteen enterprises being privatized, 12 partially privatized, and 20 liquidated.

1997: Re-election of Konaré

In 1997, Alpha Oumar Konaré was re-elected for a second term as president of Mali.

1999: Amendment of Constitution

In 1999, the Constitution of 12 January 1992 was amended.

1999: Gold Emerges as Leading Export Product

Since 1999, the emergence of gold as Mali's leading export product has helped mitigate some of the negative impact of the cotton and Ivory Coast crises.

2000: Access to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation Services

In 2000, it was estimated that 62–65% of the population in Mali had access to safe drinking water, and only 69% had access to sanitation services of some kind.

2001: HIV/AIDS prevalence data

According to 2001 data, an estimated 1.9% of the adult and children population in Mali was afflicted with HIV/AIDS, among the lowest rates in Sub-Saharan Africa.

2001: Government Expenditures on Health

In 2001, general government expenditures on health in Mali totaled about US$4 per capita at an average exchange rate.

2002: Cotton Production Volume

During 2002, 620,000 tons of cotton were produced in Mali.

2002: Rural Population

In 2002, 68% of the population in Mali was rural.

2002: Hydroelectric Power Production Volume

In 2002, 700 GWh of hydroelectric power were produced in Mali.

2002: Election of Touré

In 2002, Amadou Toumani Touré was elected president of Mali.

2002: Mali Hosts African Cup of Nations

In 2002, Mali hosted the African Cup of Nations, which led to association football becoming more prominent in the country.

2002: GDP Amounted to US$3.4 Billion

In 2002, Mali's gross domestic product (GDP) amounted to US$3.4 billion.

2002: Improved Relations with the West

Since the institution of a democratic form of government in 2002, Mali's relations with the West in general and with the United States in particular have improved significantly.

2003: Decline in Cotton Prices

Cotton prices declined significantly in Mali in 2003.

2005: GDP Increase to US$5.8 Billion

In 2005, Mali's gross domestic product (GDP) increased to US$5.8 billion.

2005: Concession of Railroad Company

In 2005, the Malian government conceded a railroad company to the Savage Corporation.

2006: Female Genital Mutilation Data

An estimated 85%–91% of Mali's girls and women had undergone female genital mutilation, according to 2006 data.

2007: National Assembly Elections

Following the 2007 elections, the Alliance for Democracy and Progress held 113 of 160 seats in the assembly.

2008: Mali Women's National Basketball Team at Beijing Olympics

In 2008, the Mali women's national basketball team, led by Hamchetou Maiga, competed at the Beijing Olympics.

2008: Privatization Expectations

In 2008, two major companies, Societé de Telecommunications du Mali (SOTELMA) and the Cotton Ginning Company (CMDT), were expected to be privatized.

2009: Languages Spoken in Mali

According to the 2009 census, the languages spoken natively in Mali included Bambara (51.5%), Fula (8.3%), Dogon (6.6%), Soninké (5.7%), Songhai (5.3%), Mandinka (5.2%), Minianka (3.8%), Tamasheq (3.2%), Sénoufo (2%), Bobo (1.9%), Tieyaxo Bozo (1.6%), Kassonké (1.1%), Maure (1%), Dafing (0.4%), Samogo (0.4%), and Arabic (Hassaniya) (0.3%).

2010: Women in Parliament

In 2010, out of 147 members of Parliament in Mali, 15 were women.

January 2012: Tuareg Rebellion

In January 2012, a Tuareg rebellion began in northern Mali, led by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA).

January 2012: Armed Conflict in Northern Mali

In January 2012, an armed conflict erupted in northern Mali, as Tuareg rebels seized control of the region and later declared the secession of Azawad.

March 2012: Military Coup

In March 2012, a military coup complicated the conflict in northern Mali.

2012: Imposition of Sharia Rule

After the 2012 imposition of sharia rule in northern parts of the country, Mali was listed high (number 7) in the Christian persecution index published by Open Doors, which described the persecution in the north as severe.

2012: Suspension from African Union

In 2012, Mali was suspended from the African Union following the Malian coup d'état.

2012: Identification of a Further Uranium Mineralized North Zone

In 2012, a further uranium mineralized north zone was identified in Mali.

2012: Vulnerable Population

In 2012, during the Tuareg Rebellion, ex-slaves were a vulnerable population, and some were recaptured by their former masters.

2012: Increased Gender-Based Violence

In 2012, the conflict in the Northern part of Mali increased cases of kidnappings and rapes and reduced women's access to resources, economy, and opportunities.

January 2013: Operation Serval

In January 2013, the French military launched Operation Serval in response to territorial gains by rebels in northern Mali.

January 2013: French Armed Forces Intervention

On 11 January 2013, the French Armed Forces intervened in Mali at the request of the interim government. By 30 January, French and Malian troops claimed to have retaken Kidal, the last remaining Islamist stronghold.

July 2013: Presidential Elections

Presidential elections were held on 28 July 2013, with a second-round run-off held on 11 August.

August 2013: Election of Keita

In August 2013, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was elected as the new president of Mali.

December 2013: Legislative Elections

Legislative elections were held in Mali on 24 November and 15 December 2013.

2013: Defense Accords with France Concluded

In 2013, defense accords were concluded with France, which were later broken by the military government on May 2, 2022.

2013: Acceptability of Physical Harm Towards Women

The Demographic Health Survey for Mali in 2013 stated that 76% of women and 54% of men believed physical harm towards women was acceptable if the women burnt food, argued back, went out without notifying her husband, or refused sexual relations with her husband.

2015: Gold Production Volume

In 2015, Mali produced 41 metric tonnes of gold.

2015: Peace Agreement Threatened by Potential Confrontation

In 2015, the peace agreement between the government and pro-independence groups was threatened by a potential risk of confrontation for the first time in five years.

2015: Escalating Conflict

Since 2015, conflict has escalated in the Mopti province between agricultural communities and the pastoral Fula people, exacerbated by climate change.

January 2016: Implementation of New Regions

Since January 2016, the implementation of the two newest regions, Taoudénit and Ménaka, has been ongoing.

2016: Decentralization Efforts Begin with Taoudénit and Ménaka Regions

In 2016, decentralization efforts began with the creation of the Taoudénit and Ménaka regions.

2016: Creation of Dogon Militia

In 2016, the Dogon group Dan Na Ambassagou was created as a militia.

2017: Gender Inequality Index Ranking

In 2017, Mali ranked 157th out of 160 countries in the gender inequality index as reported by the United Nations Development Programme.

2017: Primary school enrolment rate

In 2017, the primary school enrolment rate in Mali was 61%, with 65% of males and 58% of females enrolled.

July 2018: Malian Presidential Election

On 29 July 2018, the first round of the Malian presidential election took place, with no candidate receiving more than 50% of the vote.

August 2018: Keita Re-elected

On 12 August 2018, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta was re-elected as president of Mali with 67% of the vote.

September 2018: Ceasefire Negotiation

In September 2018, the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue negotiated a unilateral ceasefire with Dan Na Ambassagou.

2018: Mali's Population

In 2018, Mali's population was 19.9 million.

2018: Ethnic Groups in Mali

In 2018, the largest ethnic groups in Mali were the Bambara (33.3%), Fulani (13.3%), Sarakole/Soninke/Marka (9.8%), Senufo/Manianka (9.6%), Malinke (8.8%), Dogon (8.7%), Sonrai (5.9%), Bobo (2.1%), and Tuareg/Bella (1.7%). The Moors, also known as Azawagh Arabs, reside in Mali and Niger and speak Hassaniya Arabic in 2018.

2018: Mali National Beach Volleyball Team

Mali featured a men's national team in beach volleyball that competed at the 2018–2020 CAVB Beach Volleyball Continental Cup.

January 2019: Atrocities Against Civilians

From January 2019 until November 2019, at least 456 civilians were killed in Central Mali.

March 2019: Massacre of Villagers

In March 2019, Dan Na Ambassagou was blamed for the massacre of 160 Fula villagers.

October 2019: Jihadist Attacks

During the first week of October 2019, jihadist attacks in Boulikessi and Mondoro killed more than 25 Mali soldiers.

November 2019: Indelimane Attack

On 1 November 2019, IS-GS militants killed at least 50 soldiers in the 2019 Indelimane attack in the Ménaka Region of Mali.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index Ranking

In 2019, Mali had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 7.16/10, ranking it 51st globally out of 172 countries.

2019: Al Qaeda Claims Responsibility for UN Base Attack

In early 2019, Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for an attack on a United Nations base in Mali, which killed 10 peacekeepers from Chad.

February 2020: Atrocities Against Civilians

In February 2020, Human Rights Watch documented atrocities against civilians in Central Mali and said that at least 456 civilians were killed, while hundreds were injured from January 2019 until November.

June 2020: Popular Unrest

In June 2020, popular unrest began following irregularities in the March and April parliamentary elections, including outrage against the kidnapping of opposition leader Soumaïla Cissé.

August 2020: US Foreign Assistance to Mali

Before the August 2020 coup, U.S. foreign assistance to Mali exceeded $135 million in FY 2020, aiming to bolster fragile peace, democratic governance and regional security, while addressing social and economic vulnerabilities.

August 2020: Military Mutiny and Arrest of Government Officials

In August 2020, military members, led by Colonel Assimi Goïta and Colonel-Major Ismaël Wagué, initiated a mutiny, resulting in the arrest of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and Prime Minister Boubou Cissé. Keïta resigned shortly after, and Wagué announced the formation of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), promising future elections.

September 2020: Tensions Rise Between Civilian Government and Military

In September 2020, tensions began to escalate between the civilian transitional government and the military following the handover of power.

September 2020: CNSP Agrees to Transition to Civilian Rule and Names Interim Leaders

In September 2020, the CNSP agreed to an 18-month political transition to civilian rule. Subsequently, Bah N'daw was appointed as the interim president, and Goïta was named the vice president.

2020: Displacement

By 2020, more than 600,000 people had been displaced by the conflict in Mali.

2020: Mali National Beach Volleyball Team

Mali featured a men's national team in beach volleyball that competed at the 2018–2020 CAVB Beach Volleyball Continental Cup.

January 2021: Transitional Government Disbands CNSP

On 18 January 2021, the transitional government announced the disbanding of the CNSP, almost four months later than initially agreed.

May 2021: Military Arrests Civilian Leaders After Cabinet Reshuffle

On 24 May 2021, President N'daw, Prime Minister Ouane, and Defence Minister Doucouré were detained in a military base in Kati after a cabinet reshuffle.

June 2021: Assimi Goïta Sworn in as Interim President

On 7 June 2021, Mali's military commander Assimi Goïta was sworn into office as the new interim president.

2021: Mali's Population

In 2021, Mali's population was an estimated 21.9 million.

January 2022: Bambara becomes an official language

In January 2022, the Malian government announced that Bambara would become the official language due to deteriorating relations between Mali and the French government.

January 2022: Mali Closes Borders and Recalls Ambassadors

On 10 January 2022, Mali announced the closure of its borders and recalled ambassadors to ECOWAS countries in response to sanctions for deferring elections.

February 2022: France Begins Troop Withdrawal from Mali

In February 2022, France commenced withdrawing French troops from Mali, marking the beginning of the end of Operation Barkhane.

February 2022: Election Timetable Pushed Back

In February 2022, the transition government pushed back the timetable for a new election, initially scheduled for February 2022, to February 2024.

March 2022: Massacre of Civilians in Central Mali

According to Human Rights Watch, in March 2022 Malian troops and suspected Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group executed around 300 civilian men in central Mali.

2022: Islamic State in the Greater Sahara Gains Territory

In 2022, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara made significant gains in the Mali War, occupying large swathes of territory in southeastern Mali.

February 2023: Russian Foreign Minister Visits Bamako

On 7 February 2023, Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, visited Bamako and pledged Moscow's continued support for improving Mali's military capabilities.

June 2023: French Removed as Official Language

In June 2023, Mali removed French, the language of its former colonizer, as an official language, approved by 97% of voters in a referendum conducted by the junta.

July 2023: French language status change and official languages update

In July 2023, French was dropped as an official language in Mali, becoming a working language instead. At the same time, 13 national languages, including Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fula, Hassaniya Arabic, Kassonke, Maninke, Minyanka, Senufo, the Songhay languages, Soninke, and Tamasheq, became official languages.

September 2023: JNIM Militants Attack Vessel on Niger River

On 7 September 2023, al-Qaeda linked JNIM militants attacked a vessel on the Niger River, resulting in the deaths of at least 154 civilians.

2023: Islamic State in the Greater Sahara Expands Control

By mid-2023, the militant group Islamic State in the Greater Sahara had doubled the amount of territory it controlled since the overthrow of the previous government.

2023: Creation of Nine New Regions

Since 2023, Mali has added nine new regions to its administrative structure, bringing the total to 19 regions plus the district of Bamako.

February 2024: ECOWAS Agrees to Lift Sanctions

In February 2024, ECOWAS agreed to lift sanctions on Mali in exchange for the government's commitment to hold elections in 2024.

July 2024: CSP-DPA Rebels and JNIM Militants Kill Dozens

In July 2024, CSP-DPA rebels and JNIM militants killed dozens of Russian mercenaries and Malian government forces during the Battle of Tinzaouaten.

August 2024: Mali Severs Diplomatic Relations with Ukraine

On 5 August 2024, the Republic of Mali announced that it was severing diplomatic relations with Ukraine.

September 2024: JNIM Militants Attack Bamako

On 17 September 2024, al-Qaeda linked JNIM militants attacked several locations across Bamako, killing at least 77 people and injuring 255 others.

2024: Bill Criminalizing Homosexual Relations

In 2024, Mali officials approved a bill criminalising homosexual relations between same-sex couples.

2024: Demographics of Mali

In 2024, approximately 47% of Malians were 14 years old or younger, 50% were between 15 and 64, and 3% were 65 or older. The median age was 16.4 years. The birth rate in 2024 was 40 births per 1,000, with a total fertility rate of 5.35 children per woman. The death rate in 2024 was 8.1 deaths per 1,000. Life expectancy at birth was 63.2 years, and Mali had one of the world's highest infant mortality rates at 57.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024.

2024: Humanitarian Assistance Needed in Mali

In 2024, approximately 7.1 million people in Mali, including over 3.8 million children, require urgent humanitarian assistance due to escalating conflict and climate crises. UNICEF is amplifying its efforts to provide essential services like health, education, and protection, while appealing for $133.5 million to address these needs.