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Mali's new President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita sworn in | Mali's new President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita sworn in |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has been sworn in as Mali's new president at the Supreme Court in the capital, Bamako. | Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has been sworn in as Mali's new president at the Supreme Court in the capital, Bamako. |
Before he took his oath of office, transitional leader Dioncounda Traore handed over power at a ceremony inside the presidential palace. | Before he took his oath of office, transitional leader Dioncounda Traore handed over power at a ceremony inside the presidential palace. |
Mr Keita, a former prime minister, won last month's run-off election. | Mr Keita, a former prime minister, won last month's run-off election. |
The election of the new president is intended to restore normality after a coup and French-led military action against Islamist rebels in the north. | The election of the new president is intended to restore normality after a coup and French-led military action against Islamist rebels in the north. |
France sent more than 4,000 troops to Mali in January and together with West African troops regained control of towns and cities from groups aligned with al-Qaeda. | France sent more than 4,000 troops to Mali in January and together with West African troops regained control of towns and cities from groups aligned with al-Qaeda. |
They captured territory with the backing of Tuareg separatists in 2012, taking advantage of a coup in Bamako during which the army accused the civilian government of not doing enough to repel the Islamists. | They captured territory with the backing of Tuareg separatists in 2012, taking advantage of a coup in Bamako during which the army accused the civilian government of not doing enough to repel the Islamists. |
'Crazy challenge' | 'Crazy challenge' |
Mr Traore and defeated presidential candidate Soumaila Cisse were among the more than 1,000 politicians, diplomats and military personnel at Wednesday's inauguration, the AFP news agency reports. | Mr Traore and defeated presidential candidate Soumaila Cisse were among the more than 1,000 politicians, diplomats and military personnel at Wednesday's inauguration, the AFP news agency reports. |
"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," Mr Keita said after taking his oath of office. | |
The 68-year-old also reiterated that national reconciliation was his priority. | |
"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," he said. | |
A larger inauguration ceremony, to which French President Francois Hollande has been invited, will be held later this month. | A larger inauguration ceremony, to which French President Francois Hollande has been invited, will be held later this month. |
At his last cabinet meeting on Monday, Mr Traore had said that his team had able to meet a "crazy challenge" following last year's coup, including regaining territory from Islamist rebels with France's help and organising a peaceful presidential election. | At his last cabinet meeting on Monday, Mr Traore had said that his team had able to meet a "crazy challenge" following last year's coup, including regaining territory from Islamist rebels with France's help and organising a peaceful presidential election. |
One of the first tasks for Mr Keita, often known as "IBK", will be to open peace talks with Tuareg separatist groups. | |
After France's military intervention, the separatists captured Kidal, the only town in Mali where the Tuaregs form a majority. But they agreed in June to allow nationwide elections to go ahead as long as negotiations continued within two months of a new president taking office. | After France's military intervention, the separatists captured Kidal, the only town in Mali where the Tuaregs form a majority. But they agreed in June to allow nationwide elections to go ahead as long as negotiations continued within two months of a new president taking office. |
Abdourahmane Dia, from BBC Afrique, says other urgent matters for the president will be reforming the army and tackling corruption - one of his campaign promises. | Abdourahmane Dia, from BBC Afrique, says other urgent matters for the president will be reforming the army and tackling corruption - one of his campaign promises. |
Many Malians believe corruption to be endemic among high-ranking officers and politicians, he says. | Many Malians believe corruption to be endemic among high-ranking officers and politicians, he says. |
The crisis of the last 18 months has deepened the economic difficulties in Mali and sectors like cotton production as well as tourism have been hit hard, our correspondent adds. | The crisis of the last 18 months has deepened the economic difficulties in Mali and sectors like cotton production as well as tourism have been hit hard, our correspondent adds. |
But the president will have more than $4bn (£2.6bn) in foreign aid promised to rebuild the country following the return to democratic rule. | |
A 12,600-strong United Nations peace force is currently deploying to the West African nation, as France begins to withdraw its 3,000 remaining troops. | A 12,600-strong United Nations peace force is currently deploying to the West African nation, as France begins to withdraw its 3,000 remaining troops. |
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