Mali presidential campaign progresses well

Good progress was also reported in the collection of voter cards.
Launched on July 7, the campaign for the first round went on normally without any major incident across the West African country.

The posters of various candidates were even placed side by side, especially along the streets of the Malian capital, Bamako.
One post in Bamako had the photo of candidates like Ibrahima Boubacar Keita of Rally for Mali (RPM) and Soumaila Cisse of the Union for the Republic and Democracy (URD).

None of their supporters attempted to remove the poster of their candidate’s competitor.
It was the same case for a candidate like Zoumana Sako of CNAS, or Modibo Sidibe of FARE party, or Dramane Dembele of ADEMA.

Candidates were not hurling insults at each other, but remained focused on selling their policies, although some tried to question the record of some of the competitors.
A day before the opening of the campaign, the chairman of the National Independent Electoral Commission, Mamadou Diamoutani, reminded the candidates of Articles 72 and 73 of Mali’s electoral law.

Article 73 prohibits a candidate from uttering injurious or defamatory words against fellow contenders.
Another very important aspect of the electoral process in the first week was the progress in the collection of the National Identification Cards (NINA).

Official figures showed that by July 14, the collection at the national level hit an average 60 percent.
The national authorities have indicated that the collection of voter cards will go on until July 27.

Most analysts of Mali’s political scene observed that the first week of the presidential campaign ended on a good note and expressed hope that the remaining campaign days will also be peaceful.

Despite concerns about a hasty vote, the country is expected to end the crisis since March 22, 2012, when the military took over state power in a coup and rebels swept through the northern part soon afterwards.

The turnaround came in January, when the Malian army fought back with the support of France and other African countries, regaining control over all northern towns except Kidal, the stronghold of the MNLA, which has reached a peace deal with the government. — Xinhua.