The newly elected President of Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has been officially sworn in as the President of the country in the capital, Bamako.
Before his induction into office, interim leader Dioncounda Traore handed over power at a ceremony inside the presidential palace in the presence of few diplomats from France and journalists.
Mr. Keita, a former Prime Minister promised after taken office that he will uphold the unity and the stability of the nation through a systematic national reconciliation that will aim at uniting the country.
“I will not forget for a moment that you put me where I am to take care of all aspects of the life of our nation, I want to reconcile hearts and minds, restore true brotherhood between us so that all the different people can play their part harmoniously in the national symphony, Mr. Keita said.
Mr. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita popularly known as IBK won the presidency after his opponent, Soumaila Cisse conceded defeat in the second round of voting after the first round failed to provide a winner.
Political analysts say Mr. Keita faces economic difficulties in various sectors of the Malian economy as the coup d’état coupled with the insurgencies by militants have brought the economy to a stalemate.
But the European Union has given the country more than $4bn in foreign aid and charged the leaders of the country to rebuild the economy following the return to democratic rule.
Militants captured territory with the backing of Tuareg separatists in 2012, taking advantage of the coup led by Captain Amadou Sanogo in Bamako during which the army accused the civilian government of not doing enough to repel the militants. Captain Amadou Sanogo has been promoted to a general position in the army by the interim government after the coup.
France, former colonial master intervene militarily to avert the militants attacks which nearly collapsed the country.
A 12,600-strong United Nations peace force is currently in the country. They supervised the elections and are still keeping security intact in collaboration with the Malian Security Forces.
Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News
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