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Mali's Third Candidate Claims Enough Support to Enter Runoff

by Bram Posthumus

   BAMAKO --

   As counting continues in Mali's presidential election, a third
   candidate, Aliou Diallo, has claimed enough votes to enter a runoff
   with President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and his main challenger
   Soumaïla Cissé. Meanwhile, the turnout has been disappointingly low
   -- partly because of security concerns from Islamist militants in parts
   of the country.

   While early indications point toward a runoff in Mali's presidential
   election, a third candidate on Tuesday claimed enough votes to enter a
   second round.
   A spokesman for gold magnate Aliou Diallo claimed he had come in second
   in Sunday's election with enough votes for a run-off on August 12.
   President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and his main challenger Soumaïla
   Cissé had on Monday claimed to make it to a second round. Keïta's
   campaign maintains he is in the lead.

   Twenty-four candidates entered Sunday's election to lead a nation
   suffering from lack of security and frequent attacks by Islamist
   militants.
   The Mali Citizens Observation Pool noted violent incidents all over the
   country during voting. Its chief observer Ibrahim Sangho said those
   included voters angry at the absence of observers from opposition
   parties at polling stations, as reported in the capital. He also noted
   violent incidents in the regions of Mopti, Taoudenni, and Timbuktu.
   The office of Mali Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maïga said Monday
   more than 700 polling stations, which were shut down, reported violent
   incidents, ranging from burning election material to attacks against
   election officials. But it added that this represents less than three
   percent of voting stations in Mali.
   Mortar attacks near polling stations during Sunday's election were
   blamed on Islamist militants. Nobody was injured in the attacks.

   The violence contributed to a low voter turn-out, raising some
   questions about the legitimacy of whoever wins.
   The Malian electorate has demonstrated its indifference, said voter
   Ahmed Traoré.
   He said there were no crowds, no queues, and that all had gone
   smoothly. But he said participation rate has not been what it should
   be, and that is also because people have not been collecting their
   voters cards.

   Observers said voter turnout rates ranged from 20 percent in the
   northern city of Kidal to 44 percent in the Sikasso region in the
   southwest.
   Turnout was estimated at about 30 percent in the capital, which was not
   expected to vote for Keïta.
   It will be up to Mali's Ministry of Territorial Administration and
   Decentralization to call the election. The Constitutional Court then
   validates the results.
   The court's decisions have been controversial in the past -- some
   observers say it is too close to the president.
   Observation Pool President Mamadou Seydou Traoré said the court's
   decision must be motivated, based on the law and on jurisprudence. He
   said the Constitutional Court is the ultimate judge, so a good judgment
   would contribute to peace and social stability.
   The European Union Observer Mission released a statement Tuesday saying
   the court should prove its transparency in any decisions. Mission
   leader Cécile Kyenge also called on the candidates to avoid announcing
   their own vote estimates before the electoral administration.
   If no candidate wins more than half the votes, a runoff, planned for
   August 12, will be held.