Why is much of Mali’s population concentrated near the Niger River?

Much of Mali’s population is concentrated along the Niger River because the country is largely flat and arid, making the river valley essential for survival and economic activity.12

The river serves as the country’s primary transport and trading artery. Its periodic flooding provides vital, fertile alluvial soil along its banks, which supports agriculture—the dominant economic sector—and creates necessary pasture for livestock. Additionally, the river supports fishing, further sustaining the populations living near its course. Historically, the Niger River valley has been a hub for major trade and urban centers, such as Timbuktu, Djenné, and the national capital, Bamako, as the soils outside this valley are generally poor, shallow, or desert-like.213