What led to the decline of Mali Empire?

Several factors contributed to the decline of the Mali Empire:

Songhai Invasion: In the 15th century, the Songhai Empire, led by Sonni Ali, invaded and conquered large parts of the Mali Empire. The Songhai were a powerful military force, and they were able to take advantage of the Mali Empire's internal conflicts to defeat them.

Political Instability: The Mali Empire was also plagued by political instability. There were frequent power struggles between different factions within the empire, and these conflicts weakened the empire's ability to resist external threats.

Economic Decline: The Mali Empire's economy was largely dependent on trade, particularly the trans-Saharan trade in gold and salt. However, the rise of the Portuguese in the Atlantic Ocean disrupted this trade, and the Mali Empire lost a significant source of revenue.

Environmental Factors: The Mali Empire was also affected by environmental factors, such as drought and disease. These factors made it difficult for the empire to sustain its population and economy.

Internal strife and succession conflicts: The Mali Empire experienced internal conflicts between different factions and rival claimants to the throne. These conflicts weakened the empire and made it vulnerable to external threats.

The combination of these factors led to the decline of the Mali Empire, and it eventually collapsed in the 16th century.