Mali's post elections challenges

Following the successful 2013 presidential election of Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, Mali faces critical challenges including the resolution of security crises in the north, the implementation of the Preliminary Ouagadougou Agreement, and the reform of defence and security sectors. While the election saw high participation and legitimacy, the new administration must now navigate inclusive dialogues with armed groups, organize parliamentary elections amidst political division, and implement a €3.25 billion sustainable recovery plan to revive an economy damaged by institutional and security crises.

• The August 2013 presidential elections were considered successful, characterized by high voter turnout and a decisive victory for Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, who won 77.62% of the vote in the second round. Participation rates were 48.98% in the first round and 44.41% in the second.
• A primary priority for the new leadership is the implementation of the Preliminary Agreement signed on 18 June in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. This agreement mandates an inclusive dialogue to reach a final comprehensive peace agreement, focusing on the administrative organization of northern regions, regional development, and the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of northern armed groups.
• Mali must address urgent security issues in the north involving Tuareg armed groups and Arab and Songhai militias. This requires both the reform of the defence and security sectors and the development of regional cooperation.
• The transition to full democratic institutions is complicated by divisions within the political class regarding the timing of parliamentary elections. While some, such as the United Front for the Protection of Democracy and the Republic (FDR), want immediate elections, others argue for more time to address issues regarding refugees, internally displaced persons, and new 18-year-old voters.
• Economic recovery is a critical challenge following a period of institutional and security crisis. A donor conference in Brussels on 15 May 2013 raised €3.25 billion for a '2013–2014 plan for the sustainable recovery of Mali', with success depending on good governance and the development of peripheral regions.

APA

Theroux-Benoni, L.-A., & Dakono, B. (2013). Mali's post elections challenges. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/malis-post-elections-challenges

Chicago

Theroux-Benoni, Lori-Anne, and Baba Dakono. Mali's post elections challenges. Institute for Security Studies, 2013. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/malis-post-elections-challenges.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Theroux-Benoni |first1=Lori-Anne |last2=Dakono |first2=Baba |title=Mali's post elections challenges |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=4 September 2013 |url=https://issafrica.org/iss-today/malis-post-elections-challenges |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{therouxbenoni2013malis, author = {Theroux-Benoni, Lori-Anne and Dakono, Baba}, title = {{Mali's post elections challenges}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2013}, month = sep, url = {https://issafrica.org/iss-today/malis-post-elections-challenges}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }