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Mali election: turnout reportedly low as one election official killed

203 views · Published 13 August 2018 · 1:49 · Indexed 25 September 2026

Channel: FRANCE 24 English · 2018 · News & Politics

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The second round of Mali''s presidential election, under even tighter security than the first...6000 extra soldiers were called in to reinforce the 30,000 already on duty....In a bid to prevent a repeat of the armed attacks that closed hundreds of polling stations during the first round of voting on July 29th.The runoff saw incumbent president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita face off against former finance minister Soumaila Cissé, in a reprise of  2013''s presidential election.As in the previous contest, renewed accusations from the opposition of electoral fraud.VID1223093_EN Soumaïla Cissé, Presidential candidate (man, French, 22 sec):"The ballots were pre-voted in Gao, we have examples. In Bamako, people had ballots before the polls even opened /// Malians need change. They don''t need cheating. They don''t need a president who cheats to win."Keita denied those claims, insisting there was no need for him to cheat.Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Incumbent Malian President:"How can you commit fraud when you are already assured of the support of your people? Why bother to commit fraud?"
   Security remains a prime issue in the country''s politics.5 years after French troops intervened to push jihadi rebels out of territory they seized in northern Mali, government authority remains weak in much of the country, with rebels regrouping and regaining ground.Some 932 militant attacks were recorded during the first half of 2018, nearly double the number for all of 2017. Despite the heightened security on Sunday, one election official was reported killed by suspected jihadists, with a handful of polling stations burned.Voter turnout estimates were low -- along with security fears, many voters are disillusioned with official corruption and a lack of new choices at the top of the ballot.Despite discontent, Keita is favored to win a second term - the official results of the vote should be known in the coming week.

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