Counting was under way in Mali following a key presidential election that saw balloting halted at hundreds of polling stations because of violence in restive regions of the poor Sahel country. “Luckily, there were no casualties,” said Drame while insisting that his candidate would force a second round run-off. ‘God does not like elections’Cisse’s team had warned of possible election fraud, claiming that there were two electoral lists and hundreds of fake polling stations. In Mali’s north, where the state is barely present, armed groups who signed the peace accord helped to ensure security. If no candidate gains more than 50 percent of the first-round vote, a second round will take place on August 12.

Source: The Guardian July 31, 2018 13:41 UTC