The Republic of Mali（République du Mali） is a land locked country in West Africa, it is the second largest country in West Africa, bordering Algeria to the north, Niger to the East, Burkinabe and Cote d'Ivoire to the south, Guinea to the southwest, Mauritania and Senegal to the West. Its northern border is in the center of the Sahara desert, and most people are concentrated in the south, where the Niger and Senegalese rivers originate. Mali used to be known as the French Sultan, and its name comes from the Malian empire. Two percent of Mali's national area is agricultural land, while 80 percent of the labor force works in agriculture.
Mali is one of the least developed countries in the world. According to the United Nations Human Development Report 2010, Mali ranks 160th in the comprehensive development ranking of 169 countries in the world. Agriculture, animal husbandry and fishery are the main potential of Mali's economic development. Agriculture, animal husbandry and fishery account for 1/3 of GDP and 80% of the employed population. Mali's industry is basically blank. Apart from sugar, cotton and textile, beer and beverage, brick and tile and other individual enterprises, Mali has almost no decent industry.
In March 2012, there was a military riot in Mali, caused by dissatisfaction with the pension policy and the end of the presidential regime.
