Niger RiverThe Niger River ( NY-jər; French: (le) fleuve Niger [(lə) flœv niʒɛʁ]) is the main river of West Africa, extending about 4,180 kilometres (2,600 miles). Its drainage basin is 2,117,700 km2 (817,600 sq mi) in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in south-eastern Guinea (Faranah Region) near the Sierra Leone border.
Cercles of MaliAdministrative territorial entity of Mali Cercles of Mali (old borders from 2012) A cercle (French for "circle") is the second-level administrative unit in Mali. Mali is divided into 19 régions and one capital district (Bamako); the régions are subdivided into 159 cercles. These subdivisions bear the name of their principal city. During French colonial rule in Mali, a cercle was the smallest unit of French political administration that was headed by a European officer.
KoulikoroKoulikoro (Bambara: ߞߎ߬ߟߌ߬ߞߙߐ߫ tr. Kulikoro) is a town and urban commune in Mali. The capital of the Koulikoro Region, Koulikoro is located on banks of the Niger River, 59 kilometres (37 mi) downstream from Mali's capital Bamako. Koulikoro is the terminus of the Dakar-Niger Railway which was completed in 1904. Between August and November, at the end of the rainy season, goods are transported down the Niger River to Ségou, Mopti, Tombouctou and Gao.
AbidjanLargest city and district of Ivory CoastCity and autonomous district in Ivory CoastAbidjan ( , French:; N'ko: ߊߓߌߖߊ߲߬) is the seat of government, largest city and former capital of Ivory Coast. As of the 2021 census, Abidjan's population was 6.3 million, which is 21.5 percent of the overall population of the country, making it the sixth most populous city proper in Africa, after Lagos, Cairo, Kinshasa, Dar es Salaam, and Johannesburg.
Capital cityA capital city, or just capital, is the municipality holding primary status in a country, state, province, department, or other subnational division, usually as its seat of government. A capital is typically a city that physically encompasses the government's offices and meeting places; the status as capital is often designated by law or a constitution.
MaliCountry in West AfricaFlag EmblemMotto: "Un peuple, un but, une foi" (French)"Mɔgɔ kelen, laɲini kelen, dannaya kelen" (Bambara)"One people, one goal, one faith"Anthem: "Le Mali" (French)Show globeShow map of AfricaCapitaland largest cityBamako12°39′N8°0′W / 12.650°N 8.000°W / 12.650; -8.000Official languages13 national languagesBambaraBoboHassaniya ArabicBozoDogon, Toro SoFulaKassonkeManinkeMinyankaSenufo, SenaraSonghay, Koyraboro SenniSoninkeTamasheqSpoken languagesBambaraFulaArabicSoninkeSonghayMandinkaMinyankaTamasheqSenufoBoboBozoKassonkeSamogoDafingDogonWorking languageFrench (de facto)Ethnic groups (2022 Census)35.9% Bambara12.8% Fula9.4% Senufo8.4% Malinke8.2% Soninke6.1% Dogon4.8% Songhai3.9% Tuareg2.2% Bobo / Bwa10.5% otherReligion (2022 Census)96.4% Islam2.3% Christianity0.7% traditional faiths0.5% no religion0.1% other religionsDemonymMalianGovernmentUnitary presidential republic under a military junta• PresidentAssimi Goïta• Prime MinisterAbdoulaye Maïga (interim)LegislatureNational Transitional CouncilFormation• Establishment of the Sudanese Republic24 November 1958• Merger with Senegal to create the Mali Federation4 April 1959• Independence from France 20 June 1960• Dissolution of the Mali Federation 20 August 1960• Declaration of the Republic of Mali 22 September 1960Area • Total1,240,192 km (478,841 sq mi) (23rd)• Water (%)1.6Population• 2025 estimate 25,200,000 (61st)• 2022 census22,395,489• Density18/km (46.6/sq mi) (215th)GDP (PPP)2025 estimate• Total $72.74 billion (115th)• Per capita $2,930 (173rd)GDP (nominal)2025 estimate• Total $23.21 billion (121st)• Per capita $936 (175th)Gini (2021) 35.7medium inequalityHDI (2023) 0.419low (188th)CurrencyWest African CFA franc (XOF)Time zoneUTC±00:00 (GMT)Calling code+223ISO 3166 codeMLInternet TLD.mlMali, officially the Republic of Mali, is a landlocked country in West Africa.
Communes of MaliA commune is the third-level administrative unit in Mali. Mali is divided into ten regions and one capital district (Bamako). These subdivisions bear the name of their principal city. The regions are divided into 56 cercles. The cercles and the district are divided into 703 communes, with 36 urban communes and 667 rural communes, while some larger cercles still contain arrondissements above the commune level, these are organisational areas with no independent power or office.LagosMost populous city in NigeriaMetropolitan city in NigeriaLagos (Pronunciation; ; Yoruba: Èkó), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan port city in southwestern Nigeria. As of November 2025, the size of the city's population has been estimated to be between 17 and 21 million residents, making Lagos the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and one of the fastest-growing megacities in the world.
Koulikoro RegionKoulikoro Region (Bambara: ߞߎߟߌߞߏߙߏ ߘߌߣߋߖߊ tr. Kulikoro Dineja) is a region in western Mali. It is the second administrative area of Mali and covers an area of 43,290 km2 (16,710 sq mi). Its capital city is Koulikoro.
Kano (city)Kano (; Ajami: كَنُواْ) is a city in northern Nigeria and the capital of Kano State. It is the second largest city in Nigeria after Lagos, with over four million citizens living within 449 km2 (173 sq mi). Located in the savanna, south of the Sahel, Kano is a major route of the trans-Saharan trade, having been a trade and human settlement for millennia. It is the traditional state of the Dabo dynasty who have ruled as emirs over the city-state since the 19th century.
Inland portAn inland port is a port on an inland waterway, such as a river, lake, or canal, which may or may not be connected to the sea. The term "inland port" is also used to refer to a dry port.
Regions of MaliSince 2016, Mali has been divided into ten regions and one capital district. A reorganization of the country from eight to nineteen regions was passed into law in 2012, but of the new regions, only Taoudénit (partitioned from Tombouctou Region) and Ménaka (formerly Ménaka Cercle in Gao Region) have begun to be implemented. Each of the regions bears the name of its capital. The regions are divided into 56 cercles.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.