27th May, 2013
The first round of Mali’s presidential election will be held on July 28, according to a draft law adopted by the conflict-scarred west African nation’s cabinet on Monday.
“The council of ministers has adopted a draft law convening the electoral college on July 28, 2013 for the election of the president of the republic, on the whole national territory and diplomatic and consular representations outside of Mali,” said the text, seen by AFP.
Mali’s president had pledged that July elections, a key goal of the troubled country’s backers, would go ahead as he prepared for an international donors conference in Brussels earlier in May.
But the cabinet communique marked the first official announcement of the much anticipated election, which comes with Bamako attempting to move on from an 18 month-long political crisis and war with Islamic extremists.
“The campaign will open on Sunday, July 7 at midnight and close at midnight on July 26,” the draft law read.
The document said the date for a second round, if required, would be August 11.