Can you name 4 countries on the mainland of Africa whose spelling begins with the letter M:

While the continent is home to six nations whose names begin with M, the key to this puzzle is the word "mainland." This important distinction excludes the two prominent island nations of Madagascar (Review) and Mauritius, both located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern African coast. The four correct countries are all situated firmly on the continental landmass, spanning diverse regions from the Sahara Desert to the Indian Ocean.

These four nations represent a remarkable cross-section of African geography and culture. In the west, you have Mali, a landlocked nation famous for the ancient city of Timbuktu and the historic Mali Empire, and Mauritania, which forms a cultural bridge between Arab North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa along the Atlantic coast. Traveling southeast, you find landlocked Malawi, known as "The Warm Heart of Africa" and dominated by the magnificent Lake Malawi. Finally, Mozambique stretches for thousands of kilometers along the Indian Ocean, notable for its Portuguese-speaking heritage and stunning coastline.