The President of Mali Ibrahim Boubacar Keita will be seeking re-election when his country holds general elections slatted for July this year.
Keita who is 73 years on Monday revealed 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.”
Keita’s strongest opposition will come from Soumaila Cisse, a former finance minister and the biggest opposition leader in the West African nation.
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