Mali’s presidential election goes to Aug. 12 runoff

BAMAKO, Mali – Mali’s government says the presidential election will go to a second round after none of the 24 candidates won more than 50 per cent of the vote.

The Ministry of Territorial Administration says President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita received 41.4 per cent of Sunday’s vote and main opposition candidate Soumaila Cisse received 17.8 per cent.

The two, who also went to a second round in 2013, will compete in the runoff on Aug. 12.

The ministry says there was a 43 per cent participation rate among Mali’s more than 8 million registered voters. The election occurred under the threat of attack from extremist groups.

The constitutional court has three days to validate the results.

Wealthy businessman Aliou Boubacar Diallo came in third with 7.95 per cent, while former NASA employee Cheick Modibo Diarra received 7.46 per cent.