Thousands of Malians on Friday demonstrated against their President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita who wants to seek re-election next month.
They marched through the capital Bamako after a similar protest on Saturday was disrupted by the police who fired teargas into them.
On Friday the protesters were seen blowing horns and waving Malian flags during their march from Place de la Liberté toward Place de l’Independence.
Re-election
President Boubacar Keita last week announced he will be seeking re-election when his country holds general elections slatted for next month.
Keita who is 73 years said on state TV that he wants to secure a second term in office, confirming an already speculated action months ago.
“I present myself as a candidate in the presidential election of July 29,” President Keita said adding that “I ask you to trust in me again.”
Opposition leader Tiebile Drame said “The people have come out to say no to five years of incompetence, of bad management, of carelessness, five years of predation of resources. The people want change.”
Tension
Mali in recent times has suffered series of terrorist attacks compounded by growing political tension in the capital Bamako with angry youth and militants engaging in ethnic killings.
In the north and other parts of the country there are doubts whether an election could take place due to chaos and lawlessness leading to the death of some U.N. peacekeepers and government soldiers.
Source: Africafeeds.com
