1.7 - Trapped In The Wilderness (Mali)

Question 1

What is the political situation in Mali?

Answer 1

• Is a secular country
• North of country wants autonomy, AQIM (Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb) controls Timbuktu
• Coup in 2012, leads to ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) to deploy 3000 troops

Question 2

What is the economy of Mali like?

Answer 2

• 64% of the population lives below the poverty line
• Tourism economy is restricted as AQIM placed a ban on visiting historical shrines in Timbuktu
• Gold mining is 2nd largest export
• money doesn’t filter down though

Question 3

What is the environment of Mali like?

Answer 3

• North is desert
• South is full of fertile savannah
• River Niger is in south, irrigates 1700km^2 of land
• Can only support subsidence agriculture - cotton, cereal, rice

Question 4

What reasons can be associated with the “bottom billion” being where they are?

Answer 4

• conflict
• reliance on natural resources
• landlocked
• poor governance
• Physical isolation
• political isolation
• low literacy rates

Question 5

Why may countries chose to be politically isolated?

Answer 5

• to preserve culture
• dictatorial regimes may want to keep grip on power
• no foreign influence