Country Demographics:

• Population:  12 million
• Religions:  Muslim 90%, Indigenous beliefs/animist 9%, Christian 1%
• Income Per Capita:  $215.56 year/ 0.60 day
• Government Type:  Republic
  Chief of State:  President Amadou Toumani TOURE (since June 2002)
  Head of Government: Prime Minister Issoufi MAIGA (2004)

Legal Profession:

• Estimated number of lawyers in Mali is unknown; individuals in Mali have researched this question and are unable to find a satisfactory source for this information.
• Estimated number of believers involved in the legal profession is unknown.
• The name of the local Christian group is Association des Juristes Chrétiens au Mali (Association of Malian Christian Lawyers).  The Association, which was organized in June 2003, is led by its president, Mr. Fatouma Théra, and vice president, Mrs. Alison Diarra.  The group is currently has about 50 members.

Major Activities of Christian Lawyers:

• The group received official recognition of the Association from the Malian government in January of 2005.  The group meets from time to time to pray together and encourage each other.

Goals:

• Because the group is just beginning to establish itself in Mali, they are greatly looking forward to the support, ideas and encouragement of other groups that already have many years of experience behind them.  They view conferences as an ideal occasion for making contacts and learning from the successes (and even failures) of other groups and individuals. They also hope that regional and global conferences will provide them with a network of friends they can contact for advice and prayer support in the future.
• The group is hoping to set up a permanent office in Bamako, the capital, to coordinate things more effectively.

Prayer Items:

• That God would continue to clearly lead them and reveal His will, as we seek to establish the Association of Christian Lawyers here in Mali.
• That the Association might have an impact in this nation.
• For a deep sense of commitment to be shared by the members, and that new law professionals and students will share this commitment and join the fellowship.
• That God would not allow the problems with frequent communication to become a hinderance.
• For God’s protection over Malian Christian lawyers and their families.

Contact Information:

• Alison Diarra jetadiarra@afribone.net.ml