PRESIDENTIAL MALI: Mali: IBK named the winner of the presidential election by his rival Soumaila Cisse

 

Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, known as IBK, should soon be officially proclaimed president of Mali after being congratulated by his opponent, Soumaila Cisse, who recognized Monday, August 12 defeat after the second round of the presidential election. "My family and I went to Mr. Keita, future president of Mali, congratulate him on his victory. God bless Mali ", wrote Monday unsuccessful candidate on his Twitter account.

Soumaila Cisse made the announcement even before the publication of the results of the second round. The former Minister of Finance decided to concede defeat when it became clear qu'IBK was head Gao even the most largest city in the north of Mali. Estimates for two-thirds of the ballots gave, indeed, a very large advance IBK.

After the first round of 28 July, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita had obtained 39.79% of the vote against 19.70% for his rival, and went heavily favored in the second round. He had obtained the rallying 22 25 candidates eliminated.

A daunting task for the winner

Despite some marginal irregularities, Malian and international observers praised the conduct of the election. "This election, in terms of democratic norms, is a follow one another s ", told Louis Michel, head of the observation mission of the European Union. "This is an election that now allows Mali to start the conclusion of an ongoing process: the return to a normal democracy," he added.

"This was an important step in the transition to Mali to peace and reconciliation, said the Special Representative of the UN, Bert Koenders. There were small imperfections […] but no violence was impressive in a country emerging from conflict only. "

After the victory of IBK will be officially confirmed, the cacique of the Malian political life of 68 years will prioritize to open negotiations with the Tuareg in the north, whose uprising in early 2012 led Mali to the brink of collapse.

The lack of protest from Soumaila Cisse should give the former prime minister the authority to also engage in discussions on the preservation of the unity of Mali, to reform the army and to tackle endemic corruption found in the circles of power. 

This presidential election is expected to close open in March 2012 by a coup of junior officers unhappy with the failure of the then President parenthesis Amadou Toumani Toure, to quell a rebellion Touareg.

The Movement for the uniqueness and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao), one of three major Islamic groups at work in 2012 in the north of Mali, had threatened to disrupt the dice , bearing the presidential election, but it has not happened while the UN is currently deploying a peacekeeping of 12,600 peacekeepers, known Minusma.

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PRESIDENTIAL MALI: Mali: the challenges facing the next president

 

Who Ibrahim Boubacar Keita or Soumaila Cisse will be called to preside over the destinies of Mali? This Sunday, August 11, some 6.9 million voters Mali will have to decide between the two finalists in the presidential election, which, in the absence of pre-program cis, seem to further highlight their personality as their vision of the country for the five years to come.

The burning issues, however, are not lacking in this country economically paralyzed from the military coup of 22 March 2012 that toppled President Amadou Toumani Toure (ATT). Endemic corruption, disobedience of the army, Tuareg separatists jolts northern and jihadist threat … The ability of the next head of state to quickly address these questions depends longevity in power.

Economic reconstruction

These are the reins of a nation just emerging from war that inherit the future Malian leader. Pointing country before the war, the 175th (out of 187) of the classification developed by the United Nations Program for Development (UNDP), Mali's GDP to contract by 1.5% during the events of 2012. A decline would have been even more so without revenues, including the exploitation of gold mines in South untouched by the fighting.

"The reconstruction especially for the north, where the Islamist insurgency and the French intervention destroyed the entire infrastructure of the three major cities of Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal, observes Michel Galy, professor of gen , opolitique the Institute of International Relations in Paris. But after reconstruction comes time development. For over 30 years, if not 50, nothing has been done to the north, where thousands of CFA francs invested were scattered in the sands of corruption. In this region, especially in the Tuareg villages, there are no schools, no wells, no roads, no health centers. Everything is done. "

"Malians expect the next president homogenization of wealth between the center and the outskirts of the north and south of the country abounds Emmanuel Dupuy, a specialist in international relations in the prospective Institute and Security in Europe (IPSE) he leads. The new government will work towards the development of Mali basement designate foreign companies can operate and then distribute the windfall across the country . "

Aware that regional inequalities are a source of instability, the international community has also conditioned the granting of its 3 billion euros of aid that they are equitably distributed s, especially in the North.

It is also necessary that the northern half, cut the rest of the country during the Islamic occupation, or with institutions capable of managing money. "The economic recovery through the restoration of administrative bases throughout the country. This is one of the major challenges of the future head of state ", Emmanuel Dupuy analysis.

National reconciliation

Halved after the coup jihadists, which was then associated with the Tuareg rebellion, Mali has again its territorial sovereignty since the military intervention French in early 2013. Nevertheless, in some parts of the North, including in Kidal, the Tuareg irredentism experiencing some turbulence. "The Tuareg rebels were present in five countries in Mali but they represent only a residual military force, says Michel Galy. They remained neutral during the campaign mainly because they expect the release of new negotiations that the future president will have to organize, under the terms of the preliminary peace agreement, within 60 days after election to define the status of the Azawad claimed by the rebels. "area

Weakened, divided, the Tuareg separatist movement has much to do for the autonomy of the region. "It will be difficult for the new president to give their view of the nationalist turn What made the campaign. At best, the MNLA [National Liberation Movement of Azawad] may benefit from decentralization, which would apply to the whole country. "

For experts, the Tuareg issue, however, is only part of the reconquest of national unity. "The head of state should make an extra effort vis-à-vis all the Malian people and not just Touareg MNLA says Emmanuel Dupuy. From a political point of view, it must involve the losers of the election. In view of the irregularities that took place during the first round, it may be that the president is elected with a number, after all, limited voice. The weakness of the score so the force to agree with the representatives of other political parties to form a government. To meet the country and meet its challenges, the president whatsoever must find a way to reach some sort of national consensus. "

This strategy may prove to be risky. "If the new president based his power on the consensus, then enroll in the right policy of former President ATT online. And it is this that caused his fall, says André Bourgeot, director of research at CNRS. Meanwhile, Malians ask the next president to establish strong institutions capable, for example, to fight corruption. But this does not happen on the political mégotage. "

The role of the army

Although they quickly left office after the coup, the military, who love nothing less than to feel abandoned by the state, remain a source of instability in a country accustomed , to coups. "The new government will have to consider how to restore the concept of a republican army, which is not yet complete. It is a work reorganization can take time, "says André Bourgeot. "The real challenge is to remind the military obligations and duties of protecting the sovereignty of Mali," insists his part Emmanuel Dupuy.

But then, the Malian armed forces are not the only ones to carry out this mission. Since the war, some 12,000 foreign soldiers, including 3,000 French still are deployed on the territory under the International Support Mission in Mali (Misma). Support which, for many observers, can be interpreted as a trusteeship Malian military. "The president must show that his army can perform the same tasks that foreign troops and will work for a better division of labor between international forces and soldiers Malian, "said Emmanuel Dupuy.

But for the researcher, rather than the army, is a Malian youth who might oppose frontally new power. "It is feared that this impromptu election inadequately prepared and organized in a hurry does not meet the challenges of rejuvenation and urbanization of its population . Discontent may occur otherwise, not necessarily by a coup. I think qu'IBK as Cissé know that if they are elected, their terms will not be a mandate that will lead to an end. "

FRANCE: Estrosi for travelers: "You will go, but before you pay"

 

The UMP mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi, interviewed Sunday in issuing the Grand Rendez-vous Europe 1 on Roma and Travellers, called "the mayors of France to re flip "and offered them his" how to ".

"I have not let go of anything," he assured, saying he spoke with people from illegally installed on a plot of his city trip. "I went to see him and I said, 'Well, you'll leave.' The community would have replied 'No, we are here for three weeks and it is we who impose on you, Mr. Mayor, to stay there for three weeks, "says the elected . "'I have other mate and I materai" said he had told them.

Estrosi and list the measures put in place if the travelers do not leave. "I'm going to put cameras everywhere to monitor your every move. We will note those returning, those who leave, how minute, when and what you will do in the city […], "said the member of the Alpes-maritimes, always yielding a conversation which he had with members of the community.

Bill of € 620,000

"I'll take the plates one after the other, I referred a court as a precaution to seize vehicles," he explains the antenna. "You know, these beautiful and big cars with which they derive their beautiful and large caravans for which the French, [they] may take a lifetime to have the same [sic]."

The mayor of Nice then said to have introduced a bill of € 620,000 as a result of damage caused by caravans of "two soccer fields [of the city] in which kids can not play back. " "'Not only will you leave but before leaving, you will pay. And if you do not pay, ok, seizure of vehicles and sell them to repay what Nice and French taxpayers do not have to pay ".

Asked about his vision of travelers, the mayor of Nice simply replied: "When you break somewhere between an offender it is." Words that should not displease the former president Jean-Marie Le Pen's National Front, last week – just in Nice – had raised the "pre , presence and stinging odor "of the Roma in the municipality.

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TENNIS: Wimbledon: Bartoli at the gates of the feat

 

All the lights are green for Marion Bartoli. The French argument that the semi-final of Wimbledon Thursday in a 2013 edition where all the favorites have already fallen. In the last four of the London tournament, all exploits are possible, the last four players who have never won a Grand Slam tournament.

The French 28 years old, seeded 15, is opposed to the amazing Belgian Kirsten Flipkens (No. 15). Face it, Marion Bartoli hopes to repeat the feat in 2007 when she was eliminated in the semifinals on the grass of Wimbledon, another much more famous Belgian Justine Henin. The Auvergne was then granted his first and only one Grand Slam final, before losing against Venus Williams.

Despite this beautiful memory, Marion Bartoli prefer not to show confidence. "It's totally different from 2007. Then I end up with the status of favorite. There are only four players. We all have a chance to win, "she said at a press conference.

The French leader is wary of this Belgian who had imposed Wimbledon junior ten years ago: "If Kirsten is, is that it plays excellent tennis. In 2007, I played Justin Henin and I had no luck on the paper. It is she who will be the most enterprising. "

Bartoli, although surrounded

In support of this challenge, Marion Bartoli can count on a new environment. Since the beginning of the year, the player asked his father and mentor Walter, with whom she maintained a close relationship, take a step back. It is now driven by Thomas Drouet, the former sparring partner of Bernard Tomic.

"Marion Bartoli, this is really a great person, a great human. I did not expect that at all for the first Grand Slam where I found the coach, "said the young coach, the French recruited after the it had been violently assaulted by the father of Tomic last May.

The Wimbledon semi-finalist also benefits from advice Amelie Mauresmo, captain of France's Fed Cup. Bartoli can not do without the presence of his senior, who had not planned to stay so long in London: "I'll tie on a chair and she will no longer be able to from. This is not a mascot but we will organize to keep it. "

"He'll have to get organized," said Mauresmo who considers Bartoli's opponent will not be easy to maneuver, "Flipkens not change badly, she is able to serve and volley occasionally. The slice backhand. It's a different game than we usually see on the circuit. "

The other semi-final will oppose the Polish Agnieszka Radwanska (No. 4) to Germany's Sabine Lisicki (25 °).

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SENEGAL: Obama pays tribute to Nelson Mandela, a "hero to the world"

 

The head of the U.S. state, Barack Obama, Wednesday, June 26 began its first tour in Dakar in sub-Saharan Africa since his re-election to the presidency. Accompanied by his wife Michelle and their two daughters, Malia and Sasha, he was welcomed by his Senegalese counterpart, Macky Sall and his wife Marème.

Barack Obama has made such a family to Goree Island, off Dakar, landmark memory of the slave trade and its infamous " , house slaves "which preceded two other U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

A joint press conference with the President of Senegal was an opportunity for the U.S. president to pay tribute to former South African President African Nelson Mandela, a "hero to the world" when he is fighting for its survival. Mandela was hospitalized for three weeks in Pretoria, "is one of my heroes. I think he is a hero to the world, and the day he left this earth, his legacy will live on through the ages ", told Barack Obama .

Support for African gay

Asked by American journalists, President Obama also hailed as "a victory for American democracy" the decision of the Supreme Court's decision in favor of marriage before gay in the United States. He took the opportunity to provide support to homosexuals persecuted in the overwhelming majority of African countries except South Africa, where gay marriage is allowed Africa. "My opinion is that, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation against the law, everyone should have the same rights," he said.

But, at her side, Senegalese President Macky Sall replied that although "very tolerant", his country was "not yet ready to decriminalize homosexuality." He recently excluded the adoption of a law allowing homosexuality in Senegal, required by organizations defending human rights.

Apart from this difference, MM. Obama and Sall said they share the same values ​​about "democracy" and "good governance".

South Africa

On Friday, the U.S. President has to go to Johannesburg for a weekend of talks and a joint press conference with President Jacob Zuma in Pretoria. A program that depend on the health of Nelson Mandela, former South African President hero of the anti-apartheid that soon 95 years was hospitalized for nearly three weeks Pretoria.

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TENNIS: Rafael Nadal's surprise elimination in the first round of Wimbledon

 

Rafael Nadal was eliminated in the first round of Wimbledon by Belgian Steve Darcis, world 135th, author of a huge surprise by winning in straight sets 7-6 (7/4 ), 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 on Monday.

This is the first time in his career that Nadal, winner of the London grass in 2008 and 2010, losing in the first round of a Grand Slam tournament.

Further evidence of the immense sensation that rocked Wimbledon since its opening day, the Spaniard was never inclined Grand Slam against a player ranked as badly as Darcis, 135th in World , 29 years.

Already last year, Nadal had left the tournament early with a defeat in the second round against the Czech Lucas Rosol. 

He suffered martyrdom because of his left knee, which was then forced to leave the circuit for seven months.

Revenue in February, he managed an amazing return by reaching the final of the nine tournaments he has played for seven titles in total, including two weeks ago won at Roland Garros.

But on Monday, knee pain, bandaged as usual, seems to have caught since Nadal became increasingly diminished over the game, though, as usual, n ' did not want to dwell on the subject.

"I do not want to talk about my knee this afternoon. All I could say would sound like an excuse. And I do not want that. This is not a good day to talk about it. This is sport, sometimes you play well, sometimes you play bad today not much has worked for me, "he said, refusing to validate the comparison with the defeat of the last year against Rosol.

"It is difficult to adapt to grass, this is probably the most demanding surface for me. I have not found my rhythm, "he added.

Before the tournament, he spoke without any preparation tournament on grass in the legs, he had confided his fear to find a very challenging area for the joints.

Struggling to his backhand from the start, he had more and more difficult to move stop to see his series of 22 consecutive victories since his dice faced Novak Djokovic in the final of Monte Carlo in mid-April.

Thus Darcis, unlikely hero with his 12 disposals in the first round of a Grand Slam in 18 occasions, created the event on the first day of the short N.1 Wimbledon with an ace on match point.

"Nobody expected my victory today. In agreement Nadal did not play his best tennis and I knew that the first match on grass is always difficult. But this is a great victory for me, "said the Belgian, 44th World in 2008 that had won a match so far at Wimbledon.

"Yes, but I've always played on grass, even if it has not necessarily been the case in this tournament. I had already beaten a Top 10 here on the Central with Berdych last year at the Olympics, "said Darcis.

While the Belgian find Polish Lucasz Kubot in the second round defeat Nadal releases a little the way Roger Federer, placed in the same part of the Spanish table and easy winner Romanian Victor Hanescu of Monday in the opening match on Centre.

AFP

FRANCE: The hidden face of Chinese weddings Tours

 

For over four years, from 2007 to 2011, more than 200 Chinese couples marched in the city of Tours. They came especially from China to symbolically celebrate what they call their "romantic honeymoon". "All Chinese people like the French marriage," showed at the time a bride.

The mayor of Tours Jean Germain, had personally the idea of ​​this operation to develop the economic activities of traders in the town and castles. "The Chinese, they sell us a lot. But we have to sell tourism. And the Loire and the city of Tours, this is very difficult to be relocated, "he explained in 2007.

From marriage to divorce

But the wedding of your dreams quickly turned to divorce. Lise Han, former special assistant to the mayor of Tours, is now suspected of fraud. This young Taiwanese woman was in charge of the entire organization of marriages find couples, to come and settle every detail of the ceremony. The contracts were then transferred to a small business, which it had formerly management, but that it had officially severed all ties to avoid conflict of interest.

Yet in 2011, the newspaper "The Chained Duck" revealed that in reality Lise Han was still a shareholder in this company. She even placed successively her husband and her ex-husband at the head of the structure. For three years, this woman and attributed juicy public contracts with bills sometimes amounting to more than EUR 50 000, were used to fund gala dinners and trips China for city officials.

Time in prison

The former project manager of the Town Hall is now under investigation for fraud, as well as her husband and ex-husband. In recent days, she even sleeps in prison for not paying his bail.

But through his lawyer, Lisa Han pleads good faith and blames the mayor. "I wish the justice go a little faster. Because it's 14 months of preliminary investigation. It is six months of information with judges. And Mayor Jean Germain has never been confronted with my client while it's been six months since I ask, "said Christophe Moysan me.

For his part, the mayor remains silent. He does not give interviews, preferring to reserve his speech to justice. He himself filed a complaint for fraud after the discovery of unjustified double bills. Despite this unflattering interlude, he hopes soon to celebrate the Chinese new marriages.

Focus Christophe DANSETTE Claire DEBUYSER China France City Wedding Tourism

BASKETBALL: The "Braqueuses" flying Euro basketball

 

The "Braqueuses" have so far fallen short of expectations raised by their great adventure of the Olympics in London, where they were amazed French viewers before to win the silver medal. A Trélazé host the first round of the Euro for their group, they signed a flawless flawless, with three wins in as many games, while communing with their subjugated by going public.

The friendlies were given an overview of both the popular fervor and the value of Blue. They had won their nine games prepared by a mean difference of 21.7 points. They did even better in the three official matches, won by an average 33-point gap. Latvia (62-39) and Serbia (76-32), archi-dominated athletically, have been crushed. Britain has fared better, but could not escape a similar fate (79-47). Although this group was perhaps the least observed of all, France has hit his fist on the table. The only threat hovering over the head of Blue would be to get caught up in the euphoria and lose concentration. But demanding Pierre Vincent is keeping watch. For the rest, everything goes.

The tricolor defense, the DNA of the team is in place, with only 39.3 points per game conceded. More surprisingly, it has the second best offense (72.3 points), behind Spain.

All lights green

France is also the second most skillful team in the competition (48.9% address) through a domestic sector ravaging everything in its path. Only the address winning shots (33.3%) is not quite so radiant, without being either disastrous. But the Blues have such a variety of options that fall within the detail.

For another positive aspect of the first round is that the coach could rotate his squad at leisure, without user organizations. Celine Dumerc and Sandrine Gruda, the two most used French, have played only 21 minutes on average. This was used to assess the science of game Gaëlle thomas, which begins in the blue shirt at age 30, or the raw talent of Diandra Tchatchouang (22) and Valerian Ayayi (19 years ).

All lights are green before entering the second round. Three opponents to come in order of appearance Croatia, the Czech Republic and Belarus, only the latter seems to disturb a little France.

With four points on the board to start the second phase, "Braqueuses" need only two wins in three games to be certain to go in the quarter. But they obviously target a new tripled history to maintain the momentum of 12 consecutive wins since their defeat by the United States Olympic final, and to provide a quarterfinal not too difficult.

AFP

INTERNET: Yahoo! ready to get their hands on Tumblr for $ 1.1 billion

 

The board of Yahoo has approved the friendly takeover of the platform microblogging Tumblr for $ 1.1 billion (€ 857 million), announces the Wall Street Journal Sunday, citing sources close to the folder.

It would be the largest acquisition in the Internet portal since the arrival at its head Marissa Meyer, a former Google in July 2012.

Citing sources close to the situation, AllThingsD said that Yahoo, one of the oldest Internet names, is interested in the excitement by Tumblr youth.

Yahoo overshadowed for many years by new internet giants Google or Facebook, and wants his image and dust halting its activities. 

This comes after the failure of his plan to acquire 75% of the French online video site, Dailymotion, France Telecom.

Tumblr is one of the two social networks with the rage in recent months. The company hosts 108 million blogs and boasts 50.7 billion messages exchanged between them.

The network is just beginning to garner revenue through advertising.

Yahoo, which has declined to comment, has issued an invitation to the press conference for Monday in Manhattan "something special", without saying more.

REUTERS

FRANCE: deadly collapse of a building in Reims

 

The toll could still rise. The collapse of a portion of a residential building in Reims Sunday left at least two dead and 10 injured after an explosion likely caused by gas, according to several sources.

"There are two dead and 10 wounded," including one in serious condition told AFP firefighters. The prefect of the Marne Michel Bernard, meanwhile, said on BFM-TV antenna that there was "significant debris clearing" implying the number of victims could be revised upwards.

The cause of the accident remains uncertain for now. "The investigation will determine the (…) the assumption is gas, but this is only a hypothesis," insisted the sub-prefect.

The building, which dates from 1960, has a forty apartments, ten have suffered significant damage.

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