explains the French involvement:
But its (the Muslim fundamentalist, Al-Shabab government) credibility was knocked when it rejected Western food aid to combat the 2011 drought and famine.
Al-Shabab advocates the Saudi-inspired Wahhabi version of Islam, while most Somalis are Sufis. Al-Shabab has destroyed a large number of Sufi shrines, causing its popularity to further plummet.
However, with Mogadishu and other towns now under government control, there is a new feeling of hope in the country and many Somalis have returned from exile, bringing their money and skills with them.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15336689
Mali's key industry is agriculture. Cotton is the country's largest crop export and is exported west throughout Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire.[47][48] During 2002, 620,000 tons of cotton were produced in Mali but cotton prices declined significantly in 2003.[47][48] In addition to cotton, Mali produces rice, millet, corn, vegetables, tobacco, and tree crops. Gold, livestock and agriculture amount to eighty percent of Mali's exports.[44] Eighty percent of Malian workers are employed in agriculture while fifteen percent work in the service sector.[48] However, seasonal variations lead to regular temporary unemployment of agricultural workers.[49] Mali's resource in livestock consists of millions of cattle, sheep, and goats. Approximately 40% of Mali's herds were lost during the Sahel drought in 1972–74.[50]
Cotton processing at CMDT.
In 1991, with the assistance of the International Development Association, Mali relaxed the enforcement of mining codes which led to renewed foreign interest and investment in the mining industry.[51] Gold is mined in the southern region and Mali has the third highest gold production in Africa (after South Africa and Ghana).[47] The emergence of gold as Mali's leading export product since 1999 has helped mitigate some of the negative impact of the cotton and Côte d'Ivoire crises.[52] Other natural resources include kaolin, salt, phosphate, and limestone.[44]
Electricity and water are maintained by the Energie du Mali, or EDM, and textiles are generated by Industry Textile du Mali, or ITEMA.[44] Mali has made efficient use of hydroelectricity, consisting of over half of Mali's electrical power. In 2002, 700 GWh of hydroelectric power were produced in Mali.[48]
The Malian government participates in foreign involvement, concerning commerce and privatization. Mali underwent economic reform, beginning in 1988 by signing agreements with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.[44] During 1988 to 1996, Mali's government largely reformed public enterprises. Since the agreement, sixteen enterprises were privatized, twelve partially privatized, and twenty liquidated.[44] In 2005, the Malian government conceded a railroad company to the Savage Corporation.[44] Two major companies, Societé de Telecommunications du Mali (SOTELMA) and the Cotton Ginning Company (CMDT), were expected to be privatized in 2008.[44]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mali
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