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Mali presidential election 2013: Run-off round to be called between front-runners Keita and Cisse
Mali Presidential candidates Soumaila Cisse (l) and Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (r). PHOTO/File
(Reuters) – Former prime minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita came first in Mali’s presidential election but will face ex-finance minister Soumaila Cisse in a run-off after he failed to secure an outright majority.
According to provisional results, Keita secured 39.24 percent of the vote in the July 28 poll, well ahead of Cisse on 19.44 percent.
Mali’s Constitutional Court must confirm the provisional results before the second round run-off election can go ahead on August 11.
A record 51.54 percent of registered voters took part in the high-stakes election, which is meant to give the West African nation a fresh start after 18 months of political turmoil and war.
Turnout in Mali’s previous elections had never hit the 40 percent mark.