Background: The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamed Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 with a transitional government and in 1992 when Mali's first democratic presidential election was held. After his reelection in 1997, President Alpha KONARE continued to push through political and economic reforms and to fight corruption. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, he stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou TOURE.
January 23rd 2008Africa » Mali » North-East » Gao 12-year-old Tula lives in the remote yet bustling village of Gao, a sprawling pile of mud houses banked along the glittering blue waters of the Niger River in Mali's western lunar landscape. She's on ... [full story]
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