Mali

context: Mali (i/ˈmɑːli/; French: [maˈli]), officially the Republic of Mali (French: République du Mali), is a landlocked country in West Africa. Mali is the eighth-largest country in Africa, with an area of just over 1,240,000 square kilometres (480,000 sq mi). The population of Mali is 14.5 million. Its capital is Bamako. Mali consists of eight regions and its borders on the north reach deep into the middle of the Sahara Desert, while the country's southern part, where the majority of inhabitants live, features the Niger and Senegal rivers. The country's economy centers on agriculture and fishing. Some of Mali's prominent natural resources include gold, being the third largest producer of gold in the African continent, and salt. About half the population lives below the international poverty line of $1.25 (U.S.) a day. A majority of the population (55%) are non-denominational Muslims.
qas: answers: text: Mali is the eighth-largest country in Africa
question: Of Africa what rank in size country is Mali?

answers: text: Bamako
question: What is Mali's capital named?

answers: text: Niger and Senegal rivers
question: What are two major rivers located inside of Mali?

answers: text: prominent natural resources include gold
question: Besides salt what other major natural resources does Mali produce?

answers: text: (55%) are non-denominational Muslims
question: More than half of the population is what religion?

context: Present-day Mali was once part of three West African empires that controlled trans-Saharan trade: the Ghana Empire, the Mali Empire (for which Mali is named), and the Songhai Empire. During its golden age, there was a flourishing of mathematics, astronomy, literature, and art. At its peak in 1300, the Mali Empire covered an area about twice the size of modern-day France and stretched to the west coast of Africa. In the late 19th century, during the Scramble for Africa, France seized control of Mali, making it a part of French Sudan. French Sudan (then known as the Sudanese Republic) joined with Senegal in 1959, achieving independence in 1960 as the Mali Federation. Shortly thereafter, following Senegal's withdrawal from the federation, the Sudanese Republic declared itself the independent Republic of Mali. After a long period of one-party rule, a coup in 1991 led to the writing of a new constitution and the establishment of Mali as a democratic, multi-party state.
qas: answers: text: France seized control of Mali
question: In the latter part of the 19th century what country took control of Mali?

answers: text: 1960
question: What year did Mali gain independence as the Mali Federation?

answers: text: Mali as a democratic, multi-party state
question: Along with a new constitution, Mali became what type of state in 1991?

answers: text: three
question: Mali was once part of how many West African empires?

answers: text: Mali Empire (for which Mali is named)
question: What was the name of the Empire that the country is now named after?

context: In January 2012, an armed conflict broke out in northern Mali, which Tuareg rebels took control of by April and declared the secession of a new state, Azawad. The conflict was complicated by a military coup that took place in March and later fighting between Tuareg and Islamist rebels. In response to Islamist territorial gains, the French military launched Opération Serval in January 2013. A month later, Malian and French forces recaptured most of the north. Presidential elections were held on 28 July 2013, with a second round run-off held on 11 August, and legislative elections were held on 24 November and 15 December 2013.
qas: answers: text: northern Mali
question: What area of Mali did conflict arise in January of 2012?

answers: text: Tuareg rebels
question: What were the rebels named in the conflict of 2012?

answers: text: new state, Azawad
question: What was the name that the rebels declared as a new state?

answers: text: French military
question: What country sent military in response to terrorism in 2013?

answers: text: Presidential elections
question: On July 28 2013 what type of elections were held?

context: In the late 14th century, the Songhai gradually gained independence from the Mali Empire and expanded, ultimately subsuming the entire eastern portion of the Mali Empire. The Songhai Empire's eventual collapse was largely the result of a Moroccan invasion in 1591, under the command of Judar Pasha. The fall of the Songhai Empire marked the end of the region's role as a trading crossroads. Following the establishment of sea routes by the European powers, the trans-Saharan trade routes lost significance.
qas: answers: text: Moroccan invasion in 1591
question: The Sonhgai Empire's demise was due to what invasion?

answers: text: Saharan trade routes lost significance.
question: What major impact did the falling of the Songhai Empire have?

answers: text: 14th century
question: What century did Songhai become independent from Mali?

answers: text: Judar Pasha
question: Who was the commander of the Moroccan invasion of 1591? 

answers: text: establishment of sea routes
question: What type of trading routes did Europeans make that compounded to the profound effect?

context: On 19 November 1968, following progressive economic decline, the Keïta regime was overthrown in a bloodless military coup led by Moussa Traoré, a day which is now commemorated as Liberation Day. The subsequent military-led regime, with Traoré as president, attempted to reform the economy. His efforts were frustrated by political turmoil and a devastating drought between 1968 to 1974, in which famine killed thousands of people. The Traoré regime faced student unrest beginning in the late 1970s and three coup attempts. The Traoré regime repressed all dissenters until the late 1980s.
qas: answers: text: Keïta regime
question: What regime was overthrown in 1968?

answers: text: Moussa Traoré
question: Who led the military on what is now celebrated Liberation Day?

answers: text: president
question: What position did Moussa Traoré take on as a result of his success?

answers: text: 1968 to 1974
question: Between what years did famine and drought afflict the country?

answers: text: three coup attempts
question: In the 1970's how many attempts were there the overthrow the govenment?

context: Anti-government protests in 1991 led to a coup, a transitional government, and a new constitution. Opposition to the corrupt and dictatorial regime of General Moussa Traoré grew during the 1980s. During this time strict programs, imposed to satisfy demands of the International Monetary Fund, brought increased hardship upon the country's population, while elites close to the government supposedly lived in growing wealth. Peaceful student protests in January 1991 were brutally suppressed, with mass arrests and torture of leaders and participants. Scattered acts of rioting and vandalism of public buildings followed, but most actions by the dissidents remained nonviolent.
qas: answers: text: 1991
question: In what year did Mali get a new constitution? 

answers: text: student protests
question: In January of 1991 what type of protests were violently curbed?

answers: text: dictatorial regime
question: What type of administration did general Mousa Traoré have?

answers: text: International Monetary Fund
question: Strict rules were put in place to appease what monetary fund?

answers: text: growing wealth
question: It was rumored that people close to the government lived in what type of condition? 

context: From 22 March through 26 March 1991, mass pro-democracy rallies and a nationwide strike was held in both urban and rural communities, which became known as les evenements ("the events") or the March Revolution. In Bamako, in response to mass demonstrations organized by university students and later joined by trade unionists and others, soldiers opened fire indiscriminately on the nonviolent demonstrators. Riots broke out briefly following the shootings. Barricades as well as roadblocks were erected and Traoré declared a state of emergency and imposed a nightly curfew. Despite an estimated loss of 300 lives over the course of four days, nonviolent protesters continued to return to Bamako each day demanding the resignation of the dictatorial president and the implementation of democratic policies.
qas: answers: text: pro-democracy
question: What type of rallies were being held in March of 1991?

answers: text: March Revolution
question: There was a nationwide strike being held that was called les envenements and also named what?

answers: text: nightly
question: After the president declared a state of emergency, what type of curfew was placed on the country?

answers: text: 300 lives
question: How many people died over the course of four days?

answers: text: nonviolent
question: After all of the governments efforts what types of protests continued? 

context: 26 March 1991 is the day that marks the clash between military soldiers and peaceful demonstrating students which climaxed in the massacre of dozens under the orders of then President Moussa Traoré. He and three associates were later tried and convicted and received the death sentence for their part in the decision-making of that day. Nowadays, the day is a national holiday in order to remember the tragic events and the people that were killed.[unreliable source?] The coup is remembered as Mali's March Revolution of 1991.
qas: answers: text: Moussa Traoré
question: Who was president during the March protests?

answers: text: three associates
question: How many people aside from the president received a death sentence? 

answers: text: 26 March
question: What day is now a National holiday in connection to Moussa Traoré?

answers: text: death sentence
question: All four men were convicted and received what as punishment?

answers: text: their part in the decision-making
question: Those that received the death sentence had gotten it for their role in what?

context: By 26 March, the growing refusal of soldiers to fire into the largely nonviolent protesting crowds turned into a full-scale tumult, and resulted into thousands of soldiers putting down their arms and joining the pro-democracy movement. That afternoon, Lieutenant Colonel Amadou Toumani Touré announced on the radio that he had arrested the dictatorial president, Moussa Traoré. As a consequence, opposition parties were legalized and a national congress of civil and political groups met to draft a new democratic constitution to be approved by a national referendum.
qas: answers: text: Lieutenant Colonel Amadou Toumani Touré
question: Who announced over the Radio that the president had been arrested?

answers: text: pro-democracy
question: Thousands of soldiers put their weapons down and joined what type of efforts?

answers: text: refusal of soldiers to fire
question: The non violent protesting led the soldiers to engage in what type of behavior?

answers: text: constitution
question: Opposing groups met to make and create what kind of democratic laws?

answers: text: a national referendum
question: What group was to approve the new democratic constitution?

context: In January 2012 a Tuareg rebellion began in Northern Mali, led by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad. In March, military officer Amadou Sanogo seized power in a coup d'état, citing Touré's failures in quelling the rebellion, and leading to sanctions and an embargo by the Economic Community of West African States. The MNLA quickly took control of the north, declaring independence as Azawad. However, Islamist groups including Ansar Dine and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), who had helped the MNLA defeat the government, turned on the Tuareg and took control of the North with the goal of implementing sharia in Mali.
qas: answers: text: Tuareg rebellion
question: What rebellion began in January of 2012?

answers: text: Amadou Sanogo
question: In March of 2012 whom gained control of Mali?

answers: text: National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad
question: What group led the rebellion in Northern Mali?

answers: text: sanctions
question: The embargo of the Economic Community of West African States imposed what type of punishment? 

answers: text: MNLA
question: What group declared independence as Asawad?

context: Mali lies in the torrid zone and is among the hottest countries in the world. The thermal equator, which matches the hottest spots year-round on the planet based on the mean daily annual temperature, crosses the country. Most of Mali receives negligible rainfall and droughts are very frequent. Late June to early December is the rainy season in the southernmost area. During this time, flooding of the Niger River is common, creating the Inner Niger Delta. The vast northern desert part of Mali has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification (BWh) with long, extremely hot summers and scarce rainfall which decreases northwards. The central area has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification (BSh) with very high temperatures year-round, a long, intense dry season and a brief, irregular rainy season. The little southern band possesses a tropical wet and dry climate (Köppen climate classification (Aw) very high temperatures year-round with a dry season and a rainy season.
qas: answers: text: torrid
question: Mali is located in what Zone?

answers: text: June to early December
question: What months are have a rainy season in the South?

answers: text: Niger River
question: Flooding of what river is typical during these months?

answers: text: Inner Niger
question: What is the name of the Delta that these floods cause?

answers: text: northern desert
question: What part of the country has the Köppen Climate Classification of (BWh)?

context: Until the military coup of 22 March 2012 and a second military coup in December 2012, Mali was a constitutional democracy governed by the Constitution of 12 January 1992, which was amended in 1999. The constitution provides for a separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. The system of government can be described as "semi-presidential". Executive power is vested in a president, who is elected to a five-year term by universal suffrage and is limited to two terms.
qas: answers: text: 1999
question: What year was the constitution amended from the previous one of 1992?

answers: text: the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government
question: The newer constitution divide power among what branches of government?

answers: text: five-year
question: How many years is one presidential term for?

answers: text: two terms
question: How many total terms can a president be elected for?

answers: text: president
question: Executive power is given to what person within the government?

context: The president serves as a chief of state and commander in chief of the armed forces. A prime minister appointed by the president serves as head of government and in turn appoints the Council of Ministers. The unicameral National Assembly is Mali's sole legislative body, consisting of deputies elected to five-year terms. Following the 2007 elections, the Alliance for Democracy and Progress held 113 of 160 seats in the assembly. The assembly holds two regular sessions each year, during which it debates and votes on legislation that has been submitted by a member or by the government.
qas: answers: text: president
question: Who is given both titles of commander of armed forces and chief of state?

answers: text: The unicameral National Assembly
question: What group is Mali's sole legislative party?

answers: text: 113
question: The Alliance of democracy and Progress has how many seats as of 2007?

answers: text: two regular sessions
question: How many legislative assemblies are  held each year?

answers: text: prime minister
question: Who is considered head of government and assigns the council of ministers?

context: Mali's constitution provides for an independent judiciary, but the executive continues to exercise influence over the judiciary by virtue of power to appoint judges and oversee both judicial functions and law enforcement. Mali's highest courts are the Supreme Court, which has both judicial and administrative powers, and a separate Constitutional Court that provides judicial review of legislative acts and serves as an election arbiter. Various lower courts exist, though village chiefs and elders resolve most local disputes in rural areas.
qas: answers: text: Supreme Court
question: What is Mali's highest court?

answers: text: both judicial and administrative powers
question: What controls do the supreme court have?

answers: text: judicial review
question: Constitutional Court provides what type of review of legislative acts?

answers: text: election
question: Constitutional Court also serves as what type of arbiter?

answers: text: village chiefs and elders
question: Local disputes in rural areas are usually handled by what individuals?

context: Mali underwent economic reform, beginning in 1988 by signing agreements with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. During 1988 to 1996, Mali's government largely reformed public enterprises. Since the agreement, sixteen enterprises were privatized, 12 partially privatized, and 20 liquidated. In 2005, the Malian government conceded a railroad company to the Savage Corporation. Two major companies, Societé de Telecommunications du Mali (SOTELMA) and the Cotton Ginning Company (CMDT), were expected to be privatized in 2008.
qas: answers: text: 1988
question: In what year did Mali start economic changes?

answers: text: World Bank and the International Monetary Fund
question: Mali signed agreements with what to parties that began their economic changes?

answers: text: 1988 to 1996
question: In what years did Mali restructure public enterprises?

answers: text: sixteen enterprises
question: How many enterprises have been made completely private since the agreement?

answers: text: 20
question: How many companies were completely liquidated?

context: In 2007, about 48 percent of Malians were younger than 12 years old, 49 percent were 15–64 years old, and 3 percent were 65 and older. The median age was 15.9 years. The birth rate in 2014 is 45.53 births per 1,000, and the total fertility rate (in 2012) was 6.4 children per woman. The death rate in 2007 was 16.5 deaths per 1,000. Life expectancy at birth was 53.06 years total (51.43 for males and 54.73 for females). Mali has one of the world's highest rates of infant mortality, with 106 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2007.
qas: answers: text: 48
question: In 2007 what percent of people were 12 and under?

answers: text: 6.4 children
question: What was the total fertility rate per woman as of 2012?

answers: text: 16.5
question: In 2007 what was the death rate per 1000 people?

answers: text: infant
question: Mali has one of the highest rates of what type of mortality?

answers: text: 53.06
question: For both men and women average life expectancy is how many years?

context: In the far north, there is a division between Berber-descendent Tuareg nomad populations and the darker-skinned Bella or Tamasheq people, due the historical spread of slavery in the region. An estimated 800,000 people in Mali are descended from slaves. Slavery in Mali has persisted for centuries. The Arabic population kept slaves well into the 20th century, until slavery was suppressed by French authorities around the mid-20th century. There still persist certain hereditary servitude relationships, and according to some estimates, even today approximately 200,000 Malians are still enslaved.
qas: answers: text: 800,000
question: Roughly how many Malians are descendants of slaves?

answers: text: 200,000
question: What is the estimate of current Mali enslavement?

answers: text: Arabic population
question: What group of people were known to keep Malian salves into the 20th century?

answers: text: Tamasheq
question: The darker skinned Bella people are also refereed to as what name?

answers: text: far north
question: What region of the country is historical slavery well known?

context: Although Mali has enjoyed a reasonably good inter-ethnic relationships based on the long history of coexistence, some hereditary servitude and bondage relationship exist, as well as ethnic tension between settled Songhai and nomadic Tuaregs of the north. Due to a backlash against the northern population after independence, Mali is now in a situation where both groups complain about discrimination on the part of the other group. This conflict also plays a role in the continuing Northern Mali conflict where there is a tension between both Tuaregs and the Malian government, and the Tuaregs and radical Islamists who are trying to establish sharia law.
qas: answers: text: Songhai and nomadic Tuaregs
question: Ethnic tension are between what two groups of people?

answers: text: Malian government
question: Radical Islam and the Tuaregs are both considered problematic according to whom?

answers: text: radical Islamists
question: What group of people are trying to establish sharia law?

answers: text: servitude and bondage
question: What type of hereditary relationships still exist today?

answers: text: discrimination
question: Songhai and Tuaregs both complain about what same issue towards each other?

context: Mali faces numerous health challenges related to poverty, malnutrition, and inadequate hygiene and sanitation. Mali's health and development indicators rank among the worst in the world. Life expectancy at birth is estimated to be 53.06 years in 2012. In 2000, 62–65 percent of the population was estimated to have access to safe drinking water and only 69 percent to sanitation services of some kind. In 2001, the general government expenditures on health totalled about US$4 per capita at an average exchange rate.
qas: answers: text: poverty, malnutrition, and inadequate hygiene and sanitation
question: What four main health problems do the Malian people currently have?

answers: text: among the worst in the world
question: How does Malian Health and development rank globally?

answers: text: Life expectancy
question: As of 2012 50.3 years is considered the Malian peoples averages of what statistic?

answers: text: 62–65
question: In 2000 what percentage of the population had access to safe drinking water?

answers: text: 69
question: In 2000 roughly how much of the population had access to sanitation services?

context: Efforts have been made to improve nutrition, and reduce associated health problems, by encouraging women to make nutritious versions of local recipes. For example, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the Aga Khan Foundation, trained women's groups to make equinut, a healthy and nutritional version of the traditional recipe di-dèguè (comprising peanut paste, honey and millet or rice flour). The aim was to boost nutrition and livelihoods by producing a product that women could make and sell, and which would be accepted by the local community because of its local heritage.
qas: answers: text: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
question: What does ICRISTAT stand for?

answers: text: improve nutrition
question: What types of efforts to aid in health problems have been made?

answers: text: recipe di-dèguè
question: The local communities have accepted equinut because it is similar to what native recipe?

answers: text: equinut
question: ICRISTAT had success in teaching women how to make what product of nutritional value?

answers: text: peanut paste, honey and millet or rice flour
question: What ingredients are in both the traditional and nutritional version of this dish?

context: Medical facilities in Mali are very limited, and medicines are in short supply. Malaria and other arthropod-borne diseases are prevalent in Mali, as are a number of infectious diseases such as cholera and tuberculosis. Mali's population also suffers from a high rate of child malnutrition and a low rate of immunization. An estimated 1.9 percent of the adult and children population was afflicted with HIV/AIDS that year, among the lowest rates in Sub-Saharan Africa. An estimated 85–91 percent of Mali's girls and women have had female genital mutilation (2006 and 2001 data).
qas: answers: text: cholera and tuberculosis
question: What are the two main prevalent infectious diseases of Mali?

answers: text: Malaria
question: what arthropod born disease has plagued the nation?

answers: text: 85–91
question: According to the data from 2001 to 2006 what percent of female genitalia are mutilated?

answers: text: HIV/AIDS
question: What Sexually transmitted disease afflicts roughly 1.9 percent of the population?

answers: text: immunization
question: Malians suffer from malnutrition and low rates of what type of medical need?

context: Malian musical traditions are derived from the griots, who are known as "Keepers of Memories". Malian music is diverse and has several different genres. Some famous Malian influences in music are kora virtuoso musician Toumani Diabaté, the late roots and blues guitarist Ali Farka Touré, the Tuareg band Tinariwen, and several Afro-pop artists such as Salif Keita, the duo Amadou et Mariam, Oumou Sangare, and Habib Koité. Dance also plays a large role in Malian culture. Dance parties are common events among friends, and traditional mask dances are performed at ceremonial events.
qas: answers: text: Keepers of Memories
question: What is the translation or meaning of a griot?

answers: text: Dance
question: Aside from music what other activity plays a significant role in culture?

answers: text: mask
question: What type of garment or accessory is traditionally worn at some of the dances held?

answers: text: Ali Farka Touré
question: What is the name of the musician that was a part of the roots and was also a blues guitarist?

answers: text: Salif Keita
question: What is a well known Afro-pop artist?