Mali is one of the very, very few African states that are properly and democratically run — an oasis in the midst of a cesspit of crime and corruption and kleptocracies.
I hope they continue along the path they are on: if any African nation could use a bit of good press, Mali is the one.
Agree; unfortunately lately the president A.T.T. has been courting some of the less than desiderable heads of state; area north Timboktu has been declared off-limits due to the presence of AQ and Islamists.
The locals in Bamako have been getting more belligerent toward the westerners because they want to emigrate and they feel that “we” owe them asilum.
“Mali...an oasis in the midst of...corruption...”
About 40 years ago, my brother traveled (on $5 a day ;-)) through about 10 African countries, one of which was Mali. He went by river steamer, railroad, and hitchhiking. He said the really amazing thing was to see the variation in the people. He said some were cultured and urbanized, and others were very primative. Four or five hundred years ago, a major city in Nigeria had a population of around 50,000. Unfortunately, my senior memory is kicking in again and I can’t remember the name.