The Mali has a rich and relatively well-known history. It was the seat of three great empires: the Empire of Ghana, the Empire of Mali and the Empire Songhaï. It will be a French colony thereafter. A few years after independence, it will undergo the dictatorship of Moussa Traoré before knowing a democratic regime since the beginning of the Années 1990.

• See also: Chronology of Mali

Prehistory

The first traces of human settlement go back to, one indeed finds vestiges Neolithic of the the green Sahara in l´ Adrar of Ifoghas. With the OJ the climatic modifications involve a strong surge of the Berber populations towards the north of l Afric. The black populations s´installent in the south, in the valley of the Niger. The first urban forms of life appear then with the threshold of our era with Djenné-Djenno.

Empire of Ghana

See also: Empire of Ghana

Also named Ouagadou, it is set up by the Sarakolés at the 4th century. It bases its prosperity on salt and gold. The empire will disaggregate in 1076 following the openings of the Berbères come to Islamize Western Africa.

Empire of Mali

See also: Empire of Mali

Founded at the 11th century it will be unified by Sundjata Keïta in 1222 which proclaims the Charte of Manden. To its apogee under the reign of Mansa Moussa it extended on an area ranging between the Atlantic Ocean and the Niger. This sovereign will be famous for the records of his pilgrimage with Mecque. Its army was made up of 100.000 soldiers.

The prosperity of the empire rested on the Trans-Saharan trade of copper, salt, gold and the fabrics. The caravans will also support the cultural exchanges.

Tombouctou, Gao and Djenné was the economic and cultural centers of this civilization in the center of Islam soudano-Malian.

The Songhaï Empire

See also: Empire songhaï

Founded by Sonni Ali Ber then Askia Mohammed, it supplants the empire of Mali as from the 15th century. It extends then on most of current Mali. In 1591 the empire is almost entirely dismantled by the troops of the pasha Djouder coming from the Morocco. Will succeed a mosaic of small States: the kingdoms will bambaras of Ségou and of the Kaarta, the Empire peul of Macina, the Empire toucoulor, the Royaume of Kénédougou… the practice of slavery develops for this period. At the 19th century the Bambaras which as the Dogons resisted Islamization are victims of the holy war carried out by the Moslem chief El Hadj Oumar Tall.

Colonization

See also: French Sudan

In 1864, the French troops of Louis Faidherbe overcome those of El Hadj Oumar Tall with Bandiagara.

Of 1880 with 1898, Joseph Gallieni undertakes the conquest of the area. The capture of Samory Touré mark victory of the French. Mali (under the name of High-Senegal-Niger) becomes, in 1895, a French colony integrated into the Africa Occidentale French with a portion of the Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Niger. Kayes becomes its chief town to leave the place, in 1907, in Bamako. In 1920, it is called French Sudan.

Independence

Until the end of the Second world war any political activity is prohibited in the colony. In 1946 the independence party of the African democratic gathering (RDA), east creates in Bamako. In 1956 French Sudan becomes an autonomous republic of the French Community.

The January 17th 1959 it forms with the Senegal the Fédération of Mali which proclaims its independence the June 20th 1960. This federation bursts a few months later and the republic of Mali is proclaimed the September 22nd 1960. The country becomes later member of the United Nations a few days. The African nationalist Modibo Keïta is first president. The country enters then the Soviet sphere of influence.

The coup d'etat

On Tuesday, November 19 1968, the failure of the economic policy of Modibo Keïta involves a military coup d'etat which carries to the capacity the lieutenant Moussa Traoré. This one founds an authoritarian regime which appears unable to solve the economic problems of the country. The country is touched by famines of 1968 with 1974, then of 1983 with 1985.

Between 1985 and 1986 the country enters in war with Burkina Faso following a territorial dispute concerning the band of Agacher. After several months of riots and armed uprising, the mode is reversed the March 26th 1991 by a military coup d'etat carried out by Amadou Toumani Touré.

Democratization

A provisional government is set up to organize the transition. The new constitution is approved by referendum the February 14th 1992. Alpha Oumar Konaré is the winner of first free elections since independence.

In February 1993, Moussa Traoré is condemned to died (it will be pardoned in 1997). Following the call to the boycott of the opposition, Konaré is re-elected with 80% of the votes cast in May 1997. In May 2002 the general Tinder Toumani Touré, candidate of the opposition, is elected with the second turn chair Republic.

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