Malians are heading to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president with incumbent President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita seeking re-election.
Mali has experienced a lot of jihadist violence and ethnic attacks over the years with little progress in stopping them.
The violence appeared to be a major challenge to the upcoming elections, but Malians are hoping to brave the storm on Sunday.
In the north and other parts of the country there are doubts whether an election could take place.
This is because of the chaos and lawlessness that led to the death of some U.N. peacekeepers and government soldiers months ago.
President Keita who is 73 years is getting the strongest opposition from Soumaila Cisse, a former finance minister.
Cisse is the biggest opposition leader in the West African nation.
Thousands of Malians last month demonstrated against their President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
The President while speaking to journalists on Tuesday defended his governance record. He also branded the series of ethnic and jihadist related attacks as “pockets of violence and remnants of terrorism”.
“There’s no more war-mongering in Mali today,” Keita said.
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Source: Africafeeds.com