Eurasia Press & News
Mali’s presidential election has been won by Ibrahim Boubacar Keita after his rival admitted defeat in the second round.
Keita, 68, served as Prime Minister from 1994 to 2000.
Mali has suffered a year of unrest including a military coup and a French-led military intervention to oust Islamist rebels from the north.
No official results have yet been released following the runoff on Sunday, Aug 11, however, reports had put Keita well ahead.
Ex-Finance Minister Soumaila Cisse said he had congratulated Keita and wished him good luck. In the first round Cisse polled just 19% against Keita’s 40% and most of the other candidates then gave Keita their endorsements.
Keita – known as IBK – will now oversee more than $4bn in foreign aid promised to rebuild the West African state.
A 12,600-strong United Nations Stabilization Mission in Mali (Minusma) is currently deploying, as France begins to withdraw its 3,000 troops.
