Mali has been home to various great empires since the 12 th century. The Malinke
Empire ruled parts of Mali from the 12 th to the 16 th centuries. The Songhai Empire
controlled the Timbuktu-Gao region in the 15 th century. Conquered by France in
the 19 th century, the land became a French colony and was later named French Sudan.
It gained independence and was named the Republic of Mali on September 22, 1960.
Mali has had democratic government since 1992 with smooth transitions of power.
Mali ’s famed city of Timbuktu was among the oldest centers of higher education
in the world. Many sent their children to study with Timbuktu’s scholars from as
far away as Asia.