Mali flag

Mali

  • Resurgence of Islam in Mali

    Throughout the 19th century, Islam developed throughout present-day Mali. al- Hajj ‘Umar, a member of the Tukulor tribe, orchestrated a jihad against practicing pagans in the region. The empire he created opposed French invasion of present-day Mali. (Katie Caruso)
  • Period: to

    Mali

    by Katie Caruso, Keegan Cordell, Anna Knotek, Joseph McGuire, Ellie McWilliam-Grench, Hans Singh
  • Maasina Split

    In 1818, Muslims in the Maasina area of Mali rose up against the government, and a separate state was created by the Islamic scholar Seeku Aamadu. The Maasina empire fought with the Bambara Empire against al-Hajj 'Umar's empire, but was eventually defeated and later rejoined Mali. (Ellie McWilliam-Grench)
  • French Colonization of Mali Begins

    Mali first fell under the colonial rule of France in 1892. A year later, the first civilian governor of what was then called Soudan Francais was appointed by France despite wide-spread resistance to the French by Malians. Soudan Francias was integrated into the Federation of French West Africa, which required Mali to send workers to the French colonies on the West African coast. (Katie Caruso)
  • Mali Federation

    Mali and Senegal form the Mali Federation. Following a three day conference, Fily Dabo Sissoko announced that the Parti Progressive Soudanais (PPS, Progressive Sudanese Party) was to merge with the Union Soudanaise-Rassemblement Démocratique Africain (US-RDA, Sudanese Union-African Democratic Rally). It splits up a year later.
  • Independence

    Mali becomes independent of French rule, and Modibo Keita is president. They become a one party, socialist state and withdraw from the Franc zone.
  • Organization of African Unity

    The Organization of African Unity was formed to promote unity between African countries. In addition to attempting to represent the African continent, The Organization of African Unity strove to eradicate colonialism in Africa. Mali joined in 1963. (Katie Caruso)
  • Mali Rejoins the Franc Zone

    Shortly after independence, Mali withdrew from the Franc Zone and began using their own currency. However, the subsequent economic decline forced Mali to return to the Franc Zone, re-adopt French currency, and allow the French to oversee the economy in 1967. (Ellie McWilliam-Grench)
  • Military Coup

    Moussa Traore led a bloodless military coup that overthrew the Keita regime in response to economic decline in Mali. Traore claimed the presidency. His attempts to reform Mali’s economy were thwarted by political turmoil and a drought and consequent famine that took the lives of thousands. The Traore regime remained in power until the late 1980s. (Katie Caruso)
  • Constitution

    Constitution allows for election, Traore is re-elected, after his early coup against the one pary rule.
  • End of Single-Party State (March Revolution)

    Between 1974 and 1992, Mali was a one-party state with the Democratic Union of the Malian People (UDMP) holding exclusive power over the country. In 1991, Traore, the president since 1968, was replaced by a transitional committee led by Amadou Tormani after Traore was overthrown in a coup. A new constitution that was written in 1992 created a multiparty democracy in Mali. (Katie Caruso)
  • Democracy

    Alpha Konare is first democratically elected president when he wins the first multiparty election.
  • Government Resignation

    Amadou Toumani Toure is elected president amid allegations of fraud. Later in the year, the government resigns with no explanation. Government of national unity is revealed.
  • Malian Coup d'Etat

    Military officers overthrow the President and government of Mali in a coup d'etat. Mali transitions to a civil interim government with the consent of the military, though the military continues to pull the strings. Rebels take control of Northern Mali, declaring it an Islamic State. (Ellie McWilliam-Grench)
  • Malian "Second Coup"

    On December 10, 2012, soldiers arrested the Prime Minister, Cheikh Modibo Diarra. He and his government resigned. Three days later, a new Prime Minister, Diango Cissoko, took office. (Ellie McWilliam-Grench)
  • French Intervention in Mali

    On January 11th this year, French President Francois Hollande announced a French military intervention in Mali to combat the Islamic extremist militants. Many see this intervention as a purely political move on Hollande's part, intended to boost his image. (Ellie McWilliam-Grench)