Kufuor For Malian Election Run-Off

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor arrived in Bamako, Mali on Saturday for the country’s run-off.

Mr Kufuor is leading a 240-member strong Observer Mission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWS) to the run-off, a statement issued by Frank Agyekum, his Spokesperson/Special Aide said yesterday.

Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who at various times has been Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Speaker of Parliament, and Mr. Soumaoila Cisse, former Minister  of Finance, are contesting the polls on Sunday after they emerged top runners from a field of 27 in the main polls held about two weeks.

Neither of them was able to achieve the required 50% plus one vote to enable them win at the first instance.

Mr. Keita polled 39.8% of the votes and Mr. Cisse had 19.7%.

At separate meetings with the two, President Kufuor called on them to run a clean race and be prepared to submit themselves to the laws of the land should any dispute arise.

He asked them to put the good of the country above their individual aspirations and to counsel their supporters to remain calm even in defeat.

Both Mr. Keita and Mr. Ciesse assured him that they would abide by the rules and ensure the success of the elections.

Mali is coming from a period of upheaval during which the military overthrew the government and insurgents from the north ransacked some of its important historical monuments.

The first round election, which was also observed by President Kufuor and his ECOWAS team, was described as ‘free and fair’ by international observers.