As hardline Al-Qaeda allies took control of the country’s vast desert north, and threatened to extend their often violent rule, former colonial power France launched a military offensive in January to drive out the Islamist fighters.
Four former prime ministers and an array of political heavyweights but just one woman featured in a list of 27 presidential hopefuls, although analysts always characterised the election as a two-horse race between Keita, 68, and Cisse.
Dramane Dembele, the candidate for Mali’s largest political party, the Alliance for Democracy in Mali (Adema), polled just 9.6 percent, taking third place.
Iba N’Diaye, interim president of Adema, vowed to support Cisse.
“Adema is supporting the candidate Soumaila Cisse in the second round and we will fight the campaign at his side,” N’Diaye told AFP.
Analysts believe the votes of fourth placed candidate Modibo Sidibe are also likely to be transferred to Cisse in the run-off, making a total of 14.5 percent when combined with Adema’s support.
This means the backing of the also-rans who garnered more than 25 percent between them will be crucial.
Acting president Dioncounda Traore and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon have acknowledged that the vote may be “imperfect” in a country with 500,000 citizens displaced by conflict, but have urged Malians to respect the outcome.
Critics have argued that Mali, under pressure from the international community, rushed to the polls and risked a botched election that could do more harm than good.
But the country has been praised by the international community for running a transparent, credible and peaceful election.
The official turnout was recorded at 51.5 percent, eclipsing Mali’s previous best of 38 percent.
Despite heavy security during voting amid fears Al-Qaeda linked militants would attack polling stations, no serious incidents were reported on election day.
A UN peacekeeping mission integrating more than 6,000 west African soldiers into its ranks is charged with ensuring security in the post election period, and will grow to 11,200 troops, plus 1,400 police, by the end of the year.
The deployment allows France to start withdrawing most of the 4,500 troops it sent to Mali in January and Paris plans to have just 1,000 troops on the ground by the end of the year.
“We believe we are emerging from this crisis,” Mali’s Prime Minister Diango Cissoko said on a visit to Ivory Coast.
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