Bamako, Mali - Sunday 19 August 2007 - Presentation of Mali and Bamako

Mali is about the same size as South Africa, but only one fourth of the population. Still, the country faces enormous challenges because of a rapid population growth and people are moving in to urban areas to try there luck among thousands of others. Mali is flat and the highest point is little over 1100 meters, its mostly lowland and in the north it is bounded with the Sahara. An area that expands rapidly due to decades of drought and also deforestation.

The capital Bamako has 1 million inhabitants and growing rapidly, the city is situated south-west in Mali. It is the main centre of all aspects as the second biggest city Segou (also by the river Niger) has a population of about 100.000. Bamako is divided by the huge river Niger which works as the main port and lifeline for the entire country.

The majority of Malians survive on animal husbandry or the production of subsistence crops or cereals. The country's main exports are gold, which provides 60% of exports by value and cotton, which provides 24% of export value.