Mali voters cast ballots in presidential run-off

 

 

People in Mali have voted in the presidential election run-off, in what is being seen as a test of the West African nation’s political stability.

Former prime minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and former finance minister Soumaila Cisse contested in the second round of the presidential election on Sunday.

The run-off ballot was held after no candidate secured a majority in the first round of voting last month.

Both candidates appealed for restoration of security and economic rehabilitation of the conflict-torn country.

Vote-counting is expected to take about 5 days.

In January, France, the former colonial ruler, sent troops to Mali to halt the advance of Muslim extremists that had taken control of the country’s north.