The empire was central to several key trading routes, and with the support of a well-trained army, Mali became a strong and powerful empire. Under the leadership of Mansa Musa, 1312 - 1337 ...

A heavy guilder’s tax was imposed on everything that passed through the empire, in or out. In four centuries, Mali expanded its territory, influence, and culture thanks to a well-trained imperial army ...

Mali's army said it's investigating soldiers who were accused by separatist Tuareg rebels of killing at least 24 civilians ...