#MaliElections: Incumbent President Poised to Win Runoff

Voters in Mali are at the polls once again to choose between the leading opposition candidate Soumaila Cisse and incumbent President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to take the reigns of government for the next 5years

The second round of voting became necessary as none of the 24 candidates who contested the presidential elections held in July could attain the required 50% +1 votes to be declared a winner.

This vote is a repeat of the 2013 election where the same two politicians battled it out to win the presidency. Based on the results from the first round, Keita, 73 is in a clear lead and looks set to be mainted as Mali’s president to complete his second term adminstrtion.

In the first round of voting, Keita secured 41.7% of votes while Cisse, trailed at a distant second with 17.8% of total votes cast.

There have been widespread concerns about security as the July voting was marred by pockets of violence and it is hoped Sunday’s elections will be peaceful.