- Amadou Toumani Toure, Mali’s incumbent Presidential candidate has reportedly led the polls with comfort, although election officials are still busy counting the results of the weekend’s polls.
Mr Toure has so far polled 60 percent of the counted votes.
Most of the results are yet to be counted. The final results are expected to be declared before the week ends.
A second round vote will be organised if any of the candidates fails to secure 50 percent of the votes.
Both local and international observers hailed the voting as free, transparent and fair because it passed off peacefully unlike Nigeria where the process was marred by several irregularities, including ballot stealing.
Observers however express disappointment over the low turnout, which was the case in the last Presidential polls in 2002.
Ibrahim Baboucar Keita, a key opposition candidate and the President of the National Assembly, blows the whistle against electoral fraud.
But President Toure’s mouthpiece, Kader Maiga, dismisses electoral fraud. He maintains that Malian voters have decided to compensate Mr Toure for his numerous achievements during his first elected term in office when he had improved the lives of Malians, built thousands of homes, made health care accessible, among other development.
“Because the President is ready to accomplish his mission, voters decide to cast their votes for him,” Kader Maiga says.
Some observers say they have been disappointed by the low turnout, which was similar to that of the 2002 presidential elections.
Mr Toure first came to power in 1992 when he overthrew the former Malian dictator, Mousa Traore. After six months in office, he relinquished power to a democratically elected government. In 2002, the former military ruler bounced back to power after winning the elections.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.