Mali’s socio-political and economic history

Mali occupies a pivotal position between the Sahara and the Sudano-Guinean regions. It has experienced three main periods of political and economic orientation: the first period, a socialist regime; the second period, a military regime and transition to liberalism; and the third period, a regime of political and economic liberalism corresponding to the democratic era. Given its geographical and historical position, Mali is more or less directly influenced by international geopolitical changes. Mali ranks third out of the eight WAEMU countries in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, this GDP is essentially driven by the agricultural sector. It has had difficulty freeing itself from the colonial economic model, and remains a supplier of raw materials. It exports almost all its raw materials, and with them, thousands of jobs. Meanwhile, hundreds of the country’s young people are drowning with other Africans in the Mediterranean for lack of work. A situation that is hard to justify, given Mali’s enormous economic potential despite its landlocked location.