In pictures: Mali’s presidential election
Citizens of the West African state are electing a leader for the first time since 2007.
Mali was supposed to hold presidential elections last year. But when a coup dislodged former President Amadou Toumani Toure, the West African country was thrown into chaos, and polls were postponed.
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| Infographic: Mali’s second round of voting |
This January, French forces invaded Mali to beat back al-Qaeda-linked rebel groups, based in the country’s north, who had been winning battle after battle as they advanced southwards.
Although the French and Malian militaries have scored victories against the rebels, the situation in Mali remains unstable.
Nevertheless, on July 28 the first round of long-awaited presidential elections – the first since 2007 – were held.
About half of Mali’s seven million eligible voters cast ballots.
None of the 27 candidates won a majority, forcing a run-off vote, held on August 11, between Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, a former prime minister, and Soumaila Cisse, a former finance minister.