Early results predict landslide win for Keita

BAMAKO: Supporters of Ibrahim Boubacar Keita partied into yesterday morning in the Malian capital, Bamako, as the state broadcaster announced Mr Keita had taken the lead in the presidential election results.

‘‘He is our man. He loves Mali, not like the others. IBK is the strong leader we need,’’ said taxi driver Mohamed Diarra, 45, using the acronym commonly adopted for Mr Keita.

The news of the strong lead for Mr Keita came as evidence was emerging of a record turnout in the south of the country, against little voting in northern areas still controlled by Tuareg rebels.

Hundreds of thousands of voters had surged to polling stations on Sunday to elect a new president.

Security guard Gnegne Diallo said Mr Keita stood for a break with past poor governance: ‘‘He will not steal from Mali. He will insist on rigour and will punish those who are corrupt.’’

Mr Keita, 68, a former prime minister who has twice lost presidential elections, has run a campaign ‘‘for the honour of Mali’’, building on the sentiment that the West African country was humiliated by the ease with which Tuareg rebels and Islamist militants swept through Mali last year.

The Islamist advance prompted France to intervene militarily in its former colony in January by sending 4,500 troops, 3,200 of whom are still in Mali alongside a United Nations peacekeeping force.

Official election results are expected to be announced on Friday. Interim President Dioncounda Traore, who as a member of the transitional government is excluded from the race, said in a message to Malians that the vote was an ‘‘historic’’ event.

Twenty-seven candidates were running for a five-year term. Apart from Mr Keita, other front-runners included: former prime ministers Soumana Sacko and Cheick Modibo Diarra; former finance minister Soumaila Cisse; and the only female candidate, labour union official Haidara Cisse.

French President Francois Hollande welcomed the ‘‘smooth progress’’ of the election, which ‘‘confirms Mali’s return to constitutional order, after the victory scored over terrorists and the liberation of the territory’’.

‘‘The unprecedented turnout seen yesterday in Mali testifies to Malians’ attachment to democratic values,’’ he said.