WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, congratulated the Malian people on the conclusion of a free, fair, and peaceful election close to a year and a half after a military coup.
“Free and fair elections are part of the very foundation of modern democracy. It’s been only months since al Qaeda controlled two-thirds of their country, but the Malian people have taken an important step toward restoring their democracy and enabling national reconciliation. While the peaceful completion of this election offers a moment for celebration, it is clear that Mali still faces a long road ahead to comprehensively address its security, democratic, humanitarian, governance, and economic challenges. I’m glad that the United States can soon be a full partner in the confrontation of those challenges, as well as Malian efforts to secure an enduring peace, build lasting institutions, and provide economic opportunity to all. I congratulate the Malian people and President-elect Kéïta on his victory and hope that the transition process will soon be furthered with free and fair legislative elections.”
On July 28, Mali held its first round of elections, in which Kéïta won nearly 40 percent of the vote. In the August 11th second round of voting Kéïta won a decisive victory, prompting Soumaila Cisse to concede.
The elections are the first since the March 2012 coup, in which the Malian military unseated former President Amadou Toumani Touré, triggering a security and governance vacuum across the country and exacerbating the existing conflict in Northern Mali. Shortly after the coup, international extremist groups overwhelmed Malian Tuareg rebels in the North and took over the cities of Timbuuktu, Gao, and Kidal. French military intervention, the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (now a U.N.-supported mission), and regional mediation beat back the extremist advance and provided space for the recently concluded presidential elections.