Mali President Keita sworn in to a second 5-year term

BAMAKO, Mali – Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has been sworn in to a new five-year term in the presence of former rebels and several other personalities although the opposition continues to dispute his election win.

Keita, 73, was inaugurated Tuesday following his August 20 election victory, which was later confirmed by the constitutional Court.

Keita vowed to maintain a secular state and to strengthen national security against extremist violence by improving the training and equipping of the national army.

Since 2012, Mali has faced attacks by Islamic extremist groups linked to al-Qaida and Tuareg separatist rebels. In 2015, a fragile peace agreement was signed between the Malian government and separatist groups but attacks by Jihadist rebels have intensified and spread from the north to the centre of the country.