Bamako, 19 Sept. -(ANA) - The inauguration of Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita is set to take place in the capital, Bamako, Thursday in front of thousands and VIP guests among them President François Hollande of France and King Mohammed VI of Morocco.
France, launched military action against Islamic militants in Mali in January, and will take centre stage as the former French colony enters a new era of democracy after months of political chaos.

The event at the 55,000-seat March 26 Stadium in Bamako will include leaders from a host of African countries including Idriss Deby of Chad, the Ivory Coast's Alassane Ouattara among 26 heads of state invited to welcome Mali's new leader, elected by a landslide on 11 August.
King Mohammed VI had sent vital food medical aid to the war-torn African state at its hour of need and last week sent three plane load of medical equipment for a mobile hospital that will be operated by a medical team from Morocco.

President Hollande, who launched a military action in January, aided by African troops, will cherish the success of his military operation in Mali after his troops ousted Islamist groups linked to Al-Qaeda who had occupied northern Mali last year.

France's engagement in Mali, however, is more nuanced and less straightforward than a simple mission to free the former colony from the clutches of Islamism.

Although France never officially backed a candidate in the presidential election, most analysts in Bamako believed it was cheering on Keita's rival Soumaila Cisse, a committed "Francophile".

Paris will now be relying on Keita, its second choice to back its interests in the region, by making good on his pledge to unite Mali and end endemic corruption in the deeply-divided West African nation.

"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," Keita, 68, said.

Mali's return to democracy has been praised by African states and the international community. However, the security issue, political and economic stability will be the main challenges to the new president and governement.

The ever-present issue of instability was thrown into sharp relief on Sunday when youths affiliated with Mali's main Tuareg separatist group tried to stop a plane carrying three ministers from landing in their northern bastion of Kidal, throwing rocks at their convoy.

The attack followed an exchange of gunfire between the Malian army and "bandits" during security operations near the Mauritanian border last week that left two soldiers wounded, according to security sources.

The incidents is vivid reminder that, in the coming weeks, the authorities will have to deal with people who have in the past demonstrated unpredictable behaviour.

Discontent in the country's northmust be addressed urgently by President Keita to honour a commitment to a marginalised population. (ANA)

AB/ANA/ 19 September 2013  - - -