Mali — Capital, Flag and Country Facts

Explore Mali: capital Bamako, population, flag, geography, languages, history and culture.

Mali is in Africa. Its capital is Bamako.

Climate

Subtropical to arid; hot and dry from February to June; rainy, humid, and mild from June to November

Mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in the south; Niger River basin

Timbuktu in Mali was a legendary center of learning in the medieval world.

Mansa Musa of the Mali Empire is considered the wealthiest person in human history.

The Great Mosque of Djenné is the largest mud-brick building in the world.

1235: Sundiata Keita founds the Mali Empire after the Battle of Kirina

1324: Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca displays immense wealth of the Mali Empire

1893: French conquest establishes colonial rule as French Sudan

1960: Independence from France under Modibo Keïta

2012: Tuareg rebellion and Islamist insurgency in northern Mali

2021: Second military coup in less than a year; Assimi Goïta takes power