About Mali

official name: Republic of Mali
capital: Bamako
head of state: President Amadou Toumani Tour� (2002)
prime minister: Ousmane Issoufi Ma�ga (2004)
state: multi party
population: 11,716,829 (July 2006 est.)
independence: from France in 1960, 22 September
languages: French (official), Bambara 80%
religion: Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%
currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF)

Legal Wise

status of homosexuality: legal
age of consent:
laws covering homosexual activity: Relevant sections of the Penal Code are as follows - in original French, and English translation. From these it would appear that same-sex sexual acts are not illegal in themselves.

Mali 1981: Article 179: Attentats aux moeurs , outrage public � la pudeur:
Trois mois � 2 ans de prison et amende de 20 000 � 200 000 francs.

Article 180 Attentat � la pudeur
M�me peines

Mali 1981: Article 179 - Sexual Offence, Public Indecency: Three months to two years of prison and a fine of 20 000 to 200 000 francs.

Indecent Assault
Same punishments (Source: Bernard Scholl - 14 June 1999)

background information and government attitudes:
Caravan routes have passed through Mali since A.D. 300. The Malinke Empire ruled regions of Mali from the 12th to the 16th century, and the Songhai Empire reigned over the Timbuktu-Gao region in the 15th century. Morocco conquered Timbuktu in 1591, and ruled over it for two centuries. Subjugated by France by the end of the 19th century, the land became a colony in 1904 (named French Sudan in 1920) and in 1946 became part of the French Union. On June 20, 1960, it became independent and, under the name of Sudanese Republic, was joined with the Republic of Senegal in the Mali federation. However, Senegal seceded from the federation on Aug. 20, 1960, and the Sudanese Republic then changed its name to the Republic of Mali on Sept. 22.

In the 1960s, Mali concentrated on economic development, continuing to accept aid from both Soviet bloc and Western nations, as well as international agencies. In the late 1960s, it began retreating from close ties with China. But a purge of conservative opponents brought greater power to President Modibo Keita, and in 1968, the influence of the Chinese and their Malian sympathizers increased. The army overthrew the government on Nov. 19, 1968, and brought Mali under military rule for the next 20 years. Mali and Burkina Faso fought a brief border war from Dec. 25 to 29, 1985. In 1991, dictator Moussa Traor� was overthrown, and Mali made a peaceful transition to democracy. In 1992, Alpha Konar� became Mali's first democratically elected president.

Mali's second multiparty national elections took place in May 1997, with President Konar� winning reelection.

Konar� won international praise for his efforts to revive Mali's faltering economy. His adherence to International Monetary Fund guidelines increased foreign investment and helped make Mali the second-largest cotton producer in Africa. Konar� was also the chairman of the 15-nation ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States), which in recent years has concentrated on brokering peace in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea. Konar� retired after serving the two five-year terms permitted by the constitution.

In June 2002, Amadou Toumani Tour� was elected president. A highly popular and respected public figure, he engineered the 1991 coup that freed the country from military rule. In 2004, he appointed Ousmane Issoufi Ma�ga as the new prime minister.

In 2005 a severe locust infestation and drought threatened about 10% of the population with starvation.

Communication

main lines in use: 75,000 (2005)
cellular telephones: 869,600 (2005)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 28, shortwave 1 note: the shortwave station in Bamako has seven frequencies and five transmitters and relays broadcasts for China Radio International (2001).
Radios: 570,000 (1997).
Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus repeaters) (2001).
Televisions: 45,000 (1997).
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 278 (2006)
Internet users: 60,000 (2005)

CALL FOR MALAWIAN LAW REVIEW FOLLOWING GAY COUPLE�S ARREST

THE NEW CODE OF THE FAMILY SPARKS ROW- MALI

salif keita was saved by homos

au mali, un homosexuel a �t� battu par sa famille