U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Thursday congratulated Mali for the successful conduct of a presidential election whose provisional results show Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in the lead. Pending a final decision on the results, Ban congratulated Keita on his election as president and acknowledged the runner-up, Soumaila Cisse, on his acceptance of the outcome and saluted "his commitment to democratic principles," said a statement from the secretary-general's spokesman, Martin Nesirky. In the statement, Ban reiterated the United Nations' commitment to accompany Mali in the next phase of its stabilization and peace consolidation process. "The United Nations also stands ready to support the re-establishment of State authority in the north of Mali, the protection of human rights and the implementation of key reforms that will lay the foundation for sustainable peace, stability and development to the benefit of all the Malian people," the statement said. The United Nations is also providing support through the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). In accordance with its mandate, MINUSMA provided technical and logistical assistance for the run-off as well as for the first round of voting held on 28 July, in addition to support to the Malian security authorities.
