Malis 2013 Presidential Candidates

As approved by the constitutional court On 2 JuLY 2013,

listed alphabetically by last name

(* following name designates individuals detained by the CNRDRE junta during 2012)

1. Jeamille Bittar* (Union des Mouvements et Associations du Mali, b. 1967) Born in San, of Lebanese and Malian ancestry; earned a masters in engineering in the USSR. Wealthy and influential businessman, head of Malis Chamber of Commerce and Industry, active in economic, civil society, and political circles. Former leader of the Parti pour le Dveloppement Economique et Sociale (PDES) which strongly backed President Amadou Toumani Tour (ATT) during his rule.

2. Soumala Ciss* a.k.a. Soumi (Union pour la Rpublique et la Dmocratie, b. 1949) Born in Timbuktu; trained as software engineer. Joined President Alpha Oumar Konars ADEMA party and headed three different ministries under Konar between 1993 and 2000. Started his own party in 2003 after unsuccessful bid as ADEMAs presidential candidate; chaired the West African Monetary Union (2004 - 2011).

3. Youssouf Ciss (independent candidate) Complete unknown, without a campaign website or even a Facebook page; ignored by media.

4. Dramane Dembl* a.k.a. Dra (Alliance pour la Dmocratie en Mali - Parti Pan-Africain pour la Libert, la Solidarit et la Justice/ADEMA-PASJ, b. 1967) Geologist and ex-Director General of Malis Ministry of Geology and Mines (2005 - 2010). Won the nomination of Malis most powerful party despite never having held elected office before. Was on executive committee of powerful AEEM (Association des lves et Etudiants du Mali) student union in early 1990s.

5. Cheick Modibo Diarra* (Rassemblement pour le Dveloppement du Mali, b. 1952) Former NASA astrophysicist and ex-head of Microsoft Africa; served as interim prime minister from April to December 2012; forced to resign by junta. Married to daughter of former President Moussa Traor.

6. Siaka Diarra (Union des Forces Dmocratiques, b. 1963) Koulikoro native and English professor who never held elected office.

7. Tibil Dram (Parti pour la Renaissance Nationale/PARENA, b. 1955) Foreign minister during ATTs transitional government (1991 - 92). Founded PARENA in 1995; ran unsuccessfully for president in 2002 and 2007. Brokered the Ouagadougou Accords in June 2013.

8. Housseini Amion Guindo a.k.a. Poulo (Convergence pour le Dveloppement au Mali/CODEM, b. 1970) Bandiagara native raised in Sikasso; former history teacher; has represented Sikasso in Malis National Assembly since 2005.

9. Achata Ciss Hadara a.k.a. Chatto (independent candidate, b. 1958) Native of Bourem (Gao region) and the fields lone female. Outspoken parliamentarian; former Air Afrique union activist. Rose to public attention in 2012 by speaking out through global media against the MNLAs separatist agenda.

10. Cheick Keita (Union pour la Dmocratie et lAlternance) A colonel in Malis customs service and political unknown.

11. Ibrahim Boubacar Keta a.k.a. IBK (Rassemblement pour le Mali, b. 1945) Koutiala native; served as President Konars campaign director, then foreign minister, then prime minister (1994 - 2000). Left ADEMA to form his own party, then became speaker of the National Assembly (2002 - 2007). A contender in the 2002 and 2007 presidential elections.

12. Sibiri Koumar (Sira) An unknown; lacks a website or any mentions in the Malian press.

13. Alhousseini Abba Maga (Parti pour un Nouveau Afrique/PANAFRIK, b. 1976) The fields youngest candidate; a Songhai with little name recognition, no strong party base and a skeletal website. His platform centers on appeals to youth voters and Pan-Africanism.

14. Choguel Kokalla Maga (Mouvement Patriotique pour le Renouveau, b. 1958) Gao native who ran for president in 2002, then served as ATTs minister of industry and commerce (2002 2004). Backed ATTs reelection in 2007.

15. Moussa Mara (Yelema, b. 1975) Probably the best-known member of a new generation of leaders who came of age during Malis post-1991 period. Elected mayor of Bamakos Commune IV as an independent in 2009; founded the Yelema (change, in Bamanan) party in 2010.

16. Dr. Oumar Mariko (Solidarit africaine pour la dmocratie et l'indpendance/SADI, b. 1959) Physician born in Bafoulab (Kayes region); secretary general of AEEM student union in early 1990s. Founded the radical leftist SADI party in 1996, and previously ran for president in 2002 and 2007.

17. Dr. Soumana Sako a.k.a. Zou (Convention Nationale pour une Afrique Solidaire - Faso Hr Ton, b. 1950) Holds a doctorate in development economics from the University of Pittsburgh and has worked for the UN, the African Development Bank and the US Agency for International Development. Served stint as finance minister under President Moussa Traor (1986 87). Was ATTs prime minister during the 1991-92 transition to democracy, and made a short-lived presidential bid in 1997.

18. Niankoro Yeah Samak (Parti pour lAction Civique et Patriotique, b. 1969) Mayor of the town of Oulssbougou; holds a masters in public policy from BYU and is vice president of Malis League of Mayors.

19. Mamadou Bakary Sangar a.k.a. "Blaise" (Convention Democrate Sociale - Mogotigiya, b. 1954) Career-long civil servant and political activist. Founded the CDS in 1996 and ran for president in 2007.

20. Konimba Sidib (Mouvement pour un Destin Commun, b. 1956) Deputy from Diola; ex-cabinet minister (1991 1992). Split from PARENA this year to form his own party.

21. Modibo Sidib* (Forces Alternatives pour le Renouveau et lEmergence, b. 1952) Former inspector-general of Malis national police; headed up the ministries of health and foreign affairs under President Konar. Was ATTs secretary-general of the presidency before becoming his prime minister (2007 2011).

22. Dr. Hamed Sow (Rassemblement Travailliste pour le Dveloppement, b. 1952) French-trained production engineer, minister of energy under ATT. Currently an adviser to Prime Minister Django Cissoko.

23. Mountaga Tall (Congrs National dInitiative Dmocratique/CNID, b. 1956) Lawyer; founded CNID in 1991; placed 3rd in the 1992 presidential race. After boycotting the 1997 poll, ran again in 2002. Has represented the city of Sgou in Malis National Assembly since 2002.

24. Racine Thiam (Convergence dAction pour le Peuple, b. 1975) Another young hopeful with scant political experience and a fledgling party. Has a French business degree and worked most recently as communications director for the telecom Orange Mali.

25. Oumar Bouri Tour a.k.a. Billy (independent candidate) Deputy from Goundam (Timbuktu region), loyalist of former president ATT and the PDES party, which decided not to field its own presidential candidate.

26. Oumar Ibrahim Tour (Alliance pour la Rpublique, b. 1957) Health minister under ATT; founded his own party in 2013.

27. Cheick Boucadry Traor a.k.a. Bouga (Convergence Africaine pour le Renouveau - Afriki Lakuraya/CARE, b. 1962) Has never run for office or served in government, but his father Moussa was Malis president from 1968 to 1991. His CARE party backed ATT during the latters presidency.

28. Ousmane Ben Fana Traor (Parti Citoyen pour le Renouveau) Has the backing of certain European liberal political organizations. Onetime ATT ally and adviser to the presidency.