Presidential elections is scheduled on Sunday July 28,2013, with a second round run-off planned for 11 August if required
The people of Mali go to
the polls on July 28,2013 to vote in a presidential election considered
crucial for the return to constitutional rule and stability in the West
African nation.
The poll is intended to end months of political crisis that
started when soldiers overthrew President Amadou Toumani Toure in March
2012, allowing separatist rebels and Islamist militants to seize the
north of the country.
France sent its troops in January 2013 to drive out the
militants from the northern cities of Timbuktu, Kidal and Gao. A UN
peacekeeping mission took over from the French and African troops on 1
July, and will support the army in securing the poll.
Presidential Candidates
Candidates must be Malian citizens aged at least 35 years. They must
have the backing of 10 legislators or five local councillors from each
of the country's nine administrative regions.
President Traore, who took over in April 2012 after the then military
junta accepted a transition to civilian rule, is not allowed to stand
Twenty-eight candidates were cleared to contest. They are the finalists
who made it after 36 hopefuls presented their papers. However one
contestant later withdrew, saying the electoral process was flawed
The front runners are -
3 former prime ministers - Cheick Modibo
Diarra, Modibo Sidibe and Ibrahim Boubacar Keita
ex-Finance
Minister Soumaila Cisse
Haider Aichata Cisse,a female candidate
according to the Malian media.
There are an
estimated 6.8 million voters out of a total population of 15 million, who mostly live in rural areas.
There will be
25,000 polling stations that will open between 08:00-18:00 local time.
The
Register is Biometric and Voters will use a National Identification Number Card to cast their ballots. The government started
handing out these voter cards at the end of June, ahead of the official
campaigning period between 7 and 26 July.
Hundreds of local and foreign observers have been accredited,
including 90 observers from the European Union and dozens of others
from the African Union and the UN.
Presidential Election Run-Off
Mali's presidential election will go to a second round on August 11,
2013 with no candidate securing a majority in the landmark poll, the
government has said.
Former PM Ibrahim Boubacar Keita leads with 39.2% ahead of main rival Soumaila Cisse with 19.4 %
Ibrahim Boubacar Keita Wins Presidential Election
Ibrahim Boubacar Keita won Mali’s presidency after his opponent conceded defeat before official results were announced
Soumalia Cisse’s concession allows Mali to avoid a protracted election
fight and to move ahead with establishing a democratically elected
government
Before he took his oath of office, transitional leader Dioncounda
Traore handed over power at a ceremony inside the presidential palace.
The swearing-in ceremony comes two weeks after the
announcement of the final results of the second round of the
presidential elections held on Aug. 11, by the Constitutional Court, in
conformity with article 37 of Mali's Constitution.
Another swearing-in ceremony will take place on Sept. 19
at the biggest stadium in Bamako. During the event, 25 presidents from
the sub-region will take part, including French President Francois
Hollande and South Africa's Jacob Zuma.
