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afrol News, 22 March - Mali's presidential elections are scheduled for 28 April, and a multitude of candidates are profiling themselves to take over after the popular President Omar Alpha Konaré. Konaré is not running for the presidency as the Constitution bars him from seeking a third term. It is starting to become clear who the main candidates for the Malian presidency will be. Four grand old men of Mali's political life do have a chance; one former head of state, two ex-Prime Ministers and one ex-Minister. The favourite comes from the opposition. The government party Alliance for Malian Democracy (ADEMA) earlier this month presented the former infrastructure minister, Soumaila Cissé, as its official candidate. Cissé resigned from government to be able to contest the poll, following the regulations of Mali's electoral rules. With the support of ADEMA, Cissé automatically is one of the favourites to the poll. Somewhat more surprising was the announcement earlier this month by the former military leader of the country, General Amadou Toumani Touré, that he will contest the elections. Touré restored democracy in 1992, after he had disposed of military dictator Moussa Traoré in a coup. Heading a transitional committee, Touré helped prepare the first democratic elections in Mali's history in 1992, where incumbent President Konaré first came to power. This also makes him a popular outsider to this year's presidential poll, although his bearing a uniform is seen as a disadvantage. A third man of particular interest is Mandé Sidibé, Prime Minister until his resignation on Monday. Sidibé, a former IMF official headhunted to head the government by President Konaré in February 2000, has not yet formally announced his candidacy. Leaving the government just six weeks before the poll however assured observers in Bamako Sidibé is aiming at the presidency. Sidibé also belongs to the ADEMA party, but he lost the party's tough nomination vote to become its candidate to Cissé. Sidibé and Cissé are believed become each others main opponents in the campaign, if Sidibé decides to run. Sidibé is one of the most known of the credible candidates, but he lacks the party support Cissé has been assured of. The highest profiled opposition politician to stand candidate is Ibrahim Boubacar Keďta, leader of the Rally for Mali (RPM) party, founded only last year. Keďta is an old colleague of Cissé, being Mali's Prime Minister between 1994 and 2000, before he broke with ADEMA to found his own party, and Sidibé took over his office. According to observers, the biggest favourite to the elections is the last mentioned, RPM leader Keďta. The Dakar-based daily 'Le Soleil' yesterday profiled the charismatic opposition leader, by concluding already in the introduction; "There is no doubt about his victory. The only current question is whether he will win in the first poll round or in the second round." All in all, thirteen candidates have so far announced their candidacy in the poll; that is, before the anticipated announcement by Sidibé. Election campaigns are to start in the first week of April. President Konaré, who most likely would have won the elections if the Constitution let him run, meanwhile seems to be leaving Malian politics. According to a report by the French daily 'Le Monde', Konaré is among the top candidates for the office as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), after Irish Mary Robinson announced she would step down. According to an analysis by 'Le Monde', Konaré is the favourite to the post along with Algeria's highly respected former Foreign Minister, Lakhdar Brahimi, currently representative of the UN Secretary General. Konaré's positive human rights record in formerly despotic Mali makes him a strong candidate. Being an African ex-President would also give Konaré sufficient weight to address human rights violations in Africa.
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