Mali: Introduction

Mali is a low-income Sahelian nation facing severe environmental degradation and political volatility. The country is characterized by three natural zones—Sudanese, Sahelian, and Saharan—and is highly vulnerable to climate change, having experienced significant rainfall declines since the 1980s. Politically, Mali has a history of military coups and recurring rebellions, most recently leading to its withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2024 and the formation of the Confederation of Sahel States with Burkina Faso and Niger. The document also notes the presence of violent extremist groups and the shift in external relations from France toward Russia.

• Mali's geography is divided into three distinct natural zones: the cultivated Sudanese zone in the south, the semi-arid Sahelian zone in the center, and the arid Saharan zone in the north. The desert covers 30% of the country, and 59% of the territory is classified as having annual rainfall of less than 400 mm.
• The Sahel region is experiencing extreme climate impacts, including the most substantial and sustained decline in rainfall recorded globally during the 1980s. By 2030, the region is expected to face severe impacts such as rising temperatures, more frequent droughts, prolonged heatwaves, and variable rainfall.
• Mali has faced chronic political instability, including multiple military coups (1968, 1991, 2012, and 2020) and recurring Tuareg rebellions in the north (1963, 1986, 1990, 2006, and 2012).
• Following a 2020 coup, Mali's military leadership shifted its external alliances, ending bilateral cooperation with France in 2022, requesting the withdrawal of MINUSMA in 2023, and moving closer to Russia. Additionally, Mali withdrew from ECOWAS in January 2024 to form the Confederation of Sahel States (CSS) with Burkina Faso and Niger.

APA

Aikins, E. R. (2026). Mali: Introduction. Institute for Security Studies. https://futures.issafrica.org/geographic/guide.pdf?geography=ML&topic=01-introduction

Chicago

Aikins, Enoch Randy. Mali: Introduction. Institute for Security Studies, 2026. https://futures.issafrica.org/geographic/guide.pdf?geography=ML&topic=01-introduction.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Aikins |first1=Enoch Randy |title=Mali: Introduction |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=31 May 2026 |url=https://futures.issafrica.org/geographic/guide.pdf?geography=ML&topic=01-introduction |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{aikins2026mali, author = {Aikins, Enoch Randy}, title = {{Mali: Introduction}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://futures.issafrica.org/geographic/guide.pdf?geography=ML&topic=01-introduction}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }