Mali Holds Parliamentary Elections In Shadow of Security Fears

French tanks drive through the West African state of Mali. The imperialists are occupying and bombing the country to seize control of oil, uranium and gold., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

ELECTIONS

Mali holds parliamentary elections in shadow of security fears

Malians have voted in parliamentary elections designed to seal the nation's return to democracy in the wake of a military coup and Islamist insurgency. Security was high amid fears of violence.

Polls were open for 10 hours in Mali on Sunday in a parliamentary vote designed to solidify the nation's fragile democracy, three months after the election of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

Some 6.5 million people were eligible to elect the new national assembly, with more than 1,000 candidates, including 135 women, competing for 147 seats.
DW.DE

Security in Mali fragile as voters elect a new National Assembly

Four months after presidential elections in Mali, voters are set to choose a new National Assembly. They appear undeterred by ongoing clashes in the north. (22.11.2013)

Voting began under heavy security, amid fears of reprisal attacks from Islamist militants. The north of the country was of particular concern, with al Qaeda-linked militants still active in the region.

A secessionist Tuareg uprising in the north of the country led to a military coup in March 2012 and the overthrow of President Amadou Toumani Toure. The Tuareg seized control of an area larger than France in the chaos that followed, only to be ousted by al Qaeda-linked Islamist groups. They, in turn, were driven out by a French-led ground and air offensive in January of this year, but have more recently resumed activity.

Dozens of Malian and Chadian soldiers in the United Nations' MINUSMA peacekeeping mission have been killed in the country's north in recent months.

Two French radio journalists were also kidnapped and killed by members of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in the north's lawless region of Kidal on November 2.

ccp/tj (AFP, dpa)