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| Mali lifts state of emergency ahead of presidential vote | Mali lifts state of emergency ahead of presidential vote |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Mali has lifted a state of emergency in place since January, when France intervened to help drive out Islamists occupying the north, officials say. | Mali has lifted a state of emergency in place since January, when France intervened to help drive out Islamists occupying the north, officials say. |
| The move comes after Mali's army re-entered the key town of Kidal, held by Tuareg rebels, to improve security ahead of the presidential election. | The move comes after Mali's army re-entered the key town of Kidal, held by Tuareg rebels, to improve security ahead of the presidential election. |
| Rebels agreed to allow troops into the northern town as part of a peace deal. | Rebels agreed to allow troops into the northern town as part of a peace deal. |
| The election on 28 July will be the first in Mali since the military staged a coup in 2012. | The election on 28 July will be the first in Mali since the military staged a coup in 2012. |
| The occupation of Kidal had been a major obstacle to organising the presidential election. | The occupation of Kidal had been a major obstacle to organising the presidential election. |
| Tuareg rebels captured the town after the French-led offensive forced militant Islamists out of northern Mali in February. | Tuareg rebels captured the town after the French-led offensive forced militant Islamists out of northern Mali in February. |
| Peace accord | Peace accord |
| The Tuaregs have been fighting for autonomy in the north since Mali gained independence from France in 1960. | The Tuaregs have been fighting for autonomy in the north since Mali gained independence from France in 1960. |
| They say they are marginalised by the government in the capital, Bamako. | They say they are marginalised by the government in the capital, Bamako. |
| The main Tuareg rebel group, the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), had worked with Islamist groups to seize the north of the country in 2012. | The main Tuareg rebel group, the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), had worked with Islamist groups to seize the north of the country in 2012. |
| But the rebel movement later broke with the Islamist groups and backed French efforts to oust them. | But the rebel movement later broke with the Islamist groups and backed French efforts to oust them. |
| In June, the Malian government signed a peace deal with the MNLA, calling for an immediate ceasefire and for government troops to return to Kidal. | In June, the Malian government signed a peace deal with the MNLA, calling for an immediate ceasefire and for government troops to return to Kidal. |
| The MNLA has watered down its demand for independence, saying it will settle, as a first step, for autonomy for the desert region where they live. | The MNLA has watered down its demand for independence, saying it will settle, as a first step, for autonomy for the desert region where they live. |
| Earlier this week, Mali's constitutional court approved 28 presidential candidates, including four former prime ministers and a woman. | Earlier this week, Mali's constitutional court approved 28 presidential candidates, including four former prime ministers and a woman. |
| But the head of the electoral commission, Mamadou Diamoutani, expressed doubt that the polls would be free and fair. | But the head of the electoral commission, Mamadou Diamoutani, expressed doubt that the polls would be free and fair. |
| "Currently, the big challenge is the distribution of 6,867,443 voters' cards - we have four weeks to do it," he said. | "Currently, the big challenge is the distribution of 6,867,443 voters' cards - we have four weeks to do it," he said. |
| "That job alone is tremendously difficult, given that 800,000 people are displaced or have become refugees." | "That job alone is tremendously difficult, given that 800,000 people are displaced or have become refugees." |
| A 12,600-strong UN peacekeeping force has been deployed to ensure stability in the lead-up to the nationwide vote. | A 12,600-strong UN peacekeeping force has been deployed to ensure stability in the lead-up to the nationwide vote. |
| The force - known by its French acronym Minusma - incorporates most of the 6,000 West African troops already in the country. | The force - known by its French acronym Minusma - incorporates most of the 6,000 West African troops already in the country. |
| It is the third largest UN force in Africa, after those in Democratic Republic of Congo and Darfur. | It is the third largest UN force in Africa, after those in Democratic Republic of Congo and Darfur. |