A few updates, including results from first round of elections.
7-29 – Africa is a Country – While we wait for election results in Mali –22 links to various articles providing a paragraph each. Categories include background, the rebels, the coups, the military intervention, the election, and the road ahead. One link to photo essay. If you are looking for a superb reading list, check out this article. Set aside some time to learn and grow.
One of particular interest to me discusses the underlying issue of syncretism. I’m part of a religious tradition in which the charge of syncretism is barely less serious than full-blown apostacy or heresy. So it’s interesting to read that one group in Islam is irritated with another group’s departure from the pure faith with said additions starting 800 years ago.
8-2 – Wall Street Journal – Mali Faces Runoff Vote – Top two candidates are Ibrahim Boubacar Keita at 39% of the votes and Soumaila Cissé at 19%. That’s 58% for the top two.
Initial reports, according to the article, are the election was reasonably fair. That is good news.
Runoff election will be on August 11.
8-2 – Bloomberg – Mali to Hold Run-Off After Boubacar Keita Fails to Get Majority – same news as the WSJ article.