The dates given for Islamic holidays are calculated according to the lunar calendar and therefore shift from year to year.
During the fasting month of Ramadan, which precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims are forbidden to eat, drink or smoke from sunrise to sunset, which causes disruptions or deviations in the normal course of business (including reduced opening hours of shops and authorities) and therefore there may be restrictions for travelers.
Many restaurants outside the hotels are closed during the day, and the consumption of alcohol and cigarettes is restricted or e.g. T. even strictly forbidden, even for non-Muslim vacationers. In hotel complexes it must be taken into account that meals and drinks during Ramadan may only be taken in the hotel restaurant or in the room.
Travelers should expect increased sensitivity in religious matters as well as in respect of Islamic traditions.
Some interruptions may also occur during Eid al-Fitr. This festival, like Eid al-Adha, is indefinite and can last from 2-10 days depending on the region.
Duty free shopping
Overview
The following items can be brought into Mali duty-free: 1000 cigarettes/cigarillos or 250 cigars or 2 kg of tobacco; new clothes and bedding; 2 pairs of new shoes; Electronic devices and personal effects such as: 2 cameras (different models); 1 camera; 1 radio; 1 bike; 1 stereo; 1 hunting rifle with import permit; 1pc; 1 set of playing cards (persons aged 18 and over); Jewelry; Groceries such as: 5 canned goods; 5 packs of milk; 5 kg of sugar; 2 kg of tea; 1 packet of coffee; 2 kg other food. The value of goods imported duty-free into Mali must not exceed the equivalent of XOF 250,000.
Prohibited Imports
alcoholic beverages in plastic bags, narcotics, drugs, psychotropic drugs, weapons, ammunition, beef and products from it, bromate and potassium not intended for laboratory use, foods containing bromate and potassium, meat meal and products from it, unauthorized pesticides, foreign products of any kind originating from or manufactured in Mali. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
Contact addresses
Embassy of the Republic of Mali
Honorary Consulate in Basel.
Route de Pré-Bois 20, PO Box 1814
Geneva 15 Airport
Switzerland
+41 (0)22 710 09 60.
http://www.missionmali.ch
http://www.missionmali.ch
Mon-Fri 09.30 a.m. – 03.00 p.m.
Embassy of the Republic of Mali
(Also responsible for Austria.)
Honorary consulates in Munich, Hamburg and Frankfurt/M.
Mon-Fri 09.00-16.00. Visa dept.: Visa application: Mon-Fri 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Visa collection: Tues and Thurs 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Business
Business etiquette
Summer or tropical suits with a tie are recommended for special occasions. Knowledge of French is required. Business hours: Mon-Thu 07.30-12.30 and 13.00-16.00, Fri 07.30-12.30 and 14.30-17.30.
Business contacts
Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie du Mali (Chamber of Commerce and Industry) Place de la Liberté, BP 46, Bamako, Mali Tel. 223 (0)20 22 50 36. Website: www.cci.ml
Communication
Phone
International direct dialing is only possible to a limited extent. The telephone network is not very extensive, but the existing connections are stable. The majority of the population has to make phone calls at the post office. In some big cities there are public payphones. Telephone cards are from SOTELMA (Internet: www.sotelma.ml), the Malian telecommunications company.
Mobile phone
GSM 900. According to Abbreviationfinder.org, network operators are Malitel-SA (Internet: www.malitel.com), Ikatel and SOTELMA.
Internet
The main Internet providers are the state telecommunications company Société des Télécommunication du Mali (SOTELMA) and the four private companies MaliNet, Cefib (Internet: www.cefib.com), Datatech and Spider (Internet: www.spider.toolnet.org). There is an internet café in Bamako.
Post office
International mail is only carried from the larger cities and main post offices. Airmail to Europe takes about two weeks to arrive.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly for the current frequencies (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
