A coup erupted in Mali, a landlocked West African country, on March 22... The media uniformly stress that Mali is among the world's poorest countries, which is basically true considering that it ranks 127 th in the global GDP listing... The ratings, however, should not overshadow the strategic importance and the economic potential of the territory of Mali. It... sits on considerable natural reserves of gold, uranium, bauxites, iron, manganese, tin, and copper. According to fresh reports, the northern part of Mali is found to be rich in oil and, importantly, contains a usable underground water ecosystem... The Mali coup marks another step towards the global redistribution of territories and natural resources masterminded by trans-national and trans-territorial players. Africa, therefore, is entering a long and difficult epoch of collapsing statehoods.
Alexander MEZYAEV | 27.03.2012 |
