Voting started slowly Sunday as people in Mali headed to the polls to vote for a president amid increasing attacks by a number of extremist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the self-styled Islamic State terror organization.
Voters have expressed concern about being targeted after al-Qaeda’s Mali branch had warned months ago against going to the polls. Deadly communal clashes between ethnic groups and accusations of heavy-handed counter-terror operations have complicated what President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita hopes will be an election victory leading him to a second term, AP reported.
The 73-year-old, who was elected in 2013, faces 23 candidates in the first round. His main challenger is 68-year-old Soumaila Cisse, his rival in 2013, who has criticized the president for not addressing Mali’s rising insecurity.
Several political parties have expressed doubts about a valid election after duplicate and fictitious polling stations were listed on the electoral commission’s website.
The government and the electoral commission have promised a smooth vote, but many in Mali are still worried.
More than eight million voters were registered. If no candidate wins more than 50% in the first round, Malians will vote in a second round on Aug. 12.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Malians to maintain a peaceful course and said in a statement Saturday he was encouraged by a peaceful campaigning period, despite security challenges in the north and center.
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