<P> than any other people . There is complete security in their country . Neither traveller nor inhabitant in it has anything to fear from robbers or men of violence ." </P> <P> After a mere nine months of rule, Mansa Camba Keita was deposed by one of Maghan Keita I's three sons . Konkodougou Kamissa Keita, named for the province he once governed, was crowned as Mansa Mari Djata Keita II in 1360 . He ruled oppressively and nearly bankrupted Mali with his lavish spending . He did however, maintain contacts with Morocco, sending a giraffe to King Abu Hassan . Mansa Mari Djata Keita II became seriously ill in 1372, and power moved into the hands of his ministers until his death in 1374 . </P> <P> The reign of Mari Djata Keita II was ruinous and left the empire in bad financial shape, but the empire itself passed intact to the dead emperor's brother . Mansa Fadima Musa Keita, or Mansa Musa Keita II, began the process of reversing his brother's excesses . He did not, however, hold the power of previous mansas because of the influence of his kankoro - sigui . </P> <P> Kankoro - sigui Mari Djata, who had no relation to the Keita clan, essentially ran the empire in Musa Keita II's stead . Ibn Khaldun recorded that in 776 A.H or 1374 / 1375 AD he interviewed a Sijilmasan scholar named Muhammad b . Wasul who had lived in Gao and had been employed in its judiciary . The latter told Ibn Khaldun about devastating struggle over Gao between Mali imperial forces against Berber Tuareg forces from Takedda . The text of Ibn Khaldun says "Gao, at this time is devastated". It seems quite possible that an exodus of the inhabitants took place at this juncture and the importance of the city was not revived until the rise of the Songhai empire . </P>

How did other parts of the world influence mali