Mali Leader Promises Elections in July

{{Mali’s transitional government prime minister has promised that elections will go ahead in July despite fears that his government is failing to reassert control after the ousting of rebel fighters.}}

Diango Sissoko, speaking to reporters in Gao on a visit to the region on Thursday, said that there is “no question over the holding of elections in July”.

“All the necessary steps are being and will be taken,” Sissoko said.

Sissoko’s visit to Gao was the first by a senior government figure since a French-led campaign in the town, the northern Mali’s largest, in January.

Some 4,000 French troops, fighting alongside Mali’s army and a regional African force AFISMA, have pushed the rebel fighters back into desert and mountain hideaways.

With France aiming to cut its military presence to 1,000 soldiers by year-end, the first 120 arrived back in France on
Thursday.

Paris is pushing for presidential and legislative elections in three months.

But, analysts fear that preparations will not be completed by July and warn that a botched election could sow the seeds for further unrest and north-south conflict in the landlocked former French colony.

{Aljazeera}