Is Mali near the Sahara Desert?

Yes, Mali is near the Sahara Desert. Mali is a landlocked country in West Africa. It is bordered by Algeria to the north, Niger to the east, Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire to the south, Guinea to the southwest, and Senegal to the west. Mali is the eighth-largest country in Africa, with a total area of 1,240,192 square kilometres (478,841 sq mi). The Sahara Desert covers the northern part of Mali.