Soumaïla Cissé

New Finance Minister Abdoulaye Daffé is close to the Chérif of Nioro Mohamed Ould Bouyé Haïdara the Sufi leader who backed the main opposition candidate Soumaïla Cissé in the 2018 election (AC Vol 59 No 16 Court in the act)...

Other reports suggest however Keïta may be in prison in Bamako perhaps waiting to be swapped for Mali's opposition leader Soumaïla Cissé who was abducted while campaigning for election on 25 March and is now presumed to be a captive of JNIM (AC Vol 61 No 7 Voters self-isolate)...

If this failed to deter voters news emerged of the disappearance of opposition leader and losing presidential candidate in 2018 Soumaïla Cissé (AC Vol 59 No 16 Court in the act)...

The opposition Union pour la République et la Démocratie alliance led by Soumaïla Cissé prefers to gripe about being cheated of election victory in 2018 rather than join Keïta's 'national dialogue' to agree a common stance towards resolution of the crisis (AC Vol 60 No 19 The talking cure)...

Few would bet on Soumaïla Cissé abandoning his partisan sulk and joining the dialogue effort even though – as a native of Timbuktu – he might be able to exercise valuable influence in promoting reconciliation among northern groups...

Their perceived neutrality as honest brokers helped to convince the Union pour la République et la Démocratie of opposition leader Soumaïla Cissé to take part in a three-day workshop to draft the terms of reference for the talks...

Jihadist violence hampered voting in the fiefdoms in Mopti and the north of his chief rival Soumaïla Cissé whom he faces in the run-off on 12 August...

Both the incumbent President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and his main challenger in the 29 July presidential election Soumaïla Cissé offer the electorate security improved basic services and infrastructure a diversified economy and jobs for the young...

On the opposition side former Prime Minister Moussa Mara and the official opposition leader Soumaïla Cissé have taken to touring the country in an effort to show they understand that Mali is more than just its capital...

A second round is therefore a virtual certainty probably pitting Keïta against either Soumaïla Cissé or Moussa Mara...

NO ALTERNATIVEOpposition leader Soumaïla Cissé – himself a northerner from the Timbuktu area – will remain a voice of responsible criticism but lacks the parliamentary clout to really cut through...