According to petwithsupplies, Mali is a landlocked country in West Africa with a population of 19.3 million people. The largest cities in Mali are the capital, Bamako, and the surrounding cities of Ségou, Mopti, Koutiala, Sikasso, and Kayes. Bamako is the largest city in Mali with an estimated population of 2.2 million people. It is located on the Niger River at the heart of the country and serves as its political, economic and cultural hub. The city is home to government offices and embassies as well as numerous cultural attractions such as the National Museum of Mali and the Grand Mosque of Bamako. Ségou is located on the banks of the Niger River around 200 kilometers northeast of Bamako with an estimated population of over 300 thousand people. It is home to many historic sites such as Fort Ségou which was built by French colonists in 1819 to protect against attacks from local tribes. Today it serves as an important port for both trade and tourism along with being a center for traditional music and culture in Mali. Mopti is located between Bamako and Ségou on the banks of both rivers with an estimated population over 200 thousand people. It has long been known for its trading ports on both rivers which have given it a nickname “the Venice of Africa” due to its canals and bridges connecting both sides of town together. The city also has many cultural attractions such as mosques, markets, art galleries, parks and more which make it a popular tourist destination in Mali today. Koutiala lies south east from Bamako near Ivory Coast border with an estimated population over 200 thousand people. It has long been known for its vibrant market culture where locals come to buy goods from neighboring countries like Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso while also selling their own products like cotton cloths or handicrafts that are unique to this region. Sikasso lies south west from Bamako near Burkina Faso border with an estimated population over 100 thousand people. It has been known for centuries for its traditional crafts including pottery-making which still continues today thanks to local artists who pass down their skills from one generation to another creating beautiful products that are sold all across Africa today including jewelry boxes or cooking pots made out of clay found in this area only. Finally, Kayes lies northwest from Bamako near Senegal border with an estimated population over 100 thousand people. It is known for its rich history dating back to the 19th century when it served as a hub for trading between French and British colonies in West Africa. Today the city is home to many historic sites such as Fort Balley which was built by French colonists in 1867 and still stands today. Kayes also has many cultural attractions such as museums, monuments, galleries, parks and more which make it a popular tourist destination in Mali today. In 2008, Mali was part of the African Union, which it had joined in 1963. The country had a democratic government since 1992 and its constitution was adopted in 1992. Although Mali is one of the poorest countries in Africa, it has made significant progress in terms of economic development and poverty reduction. In 2008, Mali’s economy was mainly based on agriculture, with cotton being the main export product. This sector contributed to about 40% of the country’s GDP in 2008. Additionally, gold mining was also a significant contributor to Mali’s economy as well as to its exports. Tourism was also an important source of foreign currency for the country with cultural heritage sites such as Timbuktu and Djenne attracting many visitors from around the world. In terms of foreign relations, Mali had close ties with France and other former colonial powers such as Belgium and Germany. These countries provided technical assistance and development aid to Mali which helped it improve its infrastructure and build capacity in various sectors such as health care and education. Additionally, Mali also enjoyed strong diplomatic relations with other African countries due to its membership in the African Union (AU). As a result of these strong ties, Mali has been able to participate actively in regional peacekeeping operations throughout Africa since 2008. Check payhelpcenter for Mali in 2008.