Virginia Friends of Mali

From The Guardian UK July 29th France 24 reports that: Sunday’s poll was conducted fairly smoothly with no reports of violence and a large number of Malians casting their ballots, defying security fears and disregarding Islamist threats to derail the vote. Official turnout figures have not been released, but analysts say the voting rate could exceed the 36 percent achieved in the 2007 elections. RPM candidate Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (known as “IBK”) and the URD’s Soumaila Cissé are considered the frontrunners among the  list of 27 presidential candidates . RPM projections  on Sunday  night put Keita in the lead, which led to hundreds of supporters gathering at the party’s Bamako headquarters and chanting, "IBK – the man we need." Similar scenes of jubilation unfolded at Cissé’s URD party headquarters in the Malian capital. These are the two candidates expected to face-off on August 11th.  http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/28/mali-elections-h...

VFOM has launched an IndieGoGo campaign! Click here to learn how you can help bring two special guest Malian Peacemakers to the Women, War and Peace conference, and receive fantastic Thank-You Rewards. Ibrahim ag Youssouf Noted Malian peacemaker Zakiyatou Oualett Halatine Malian peacemaker and  former  Minister of Tourism and Culture Updates on MALI's current situation: MALI ELECTIONS ARE IMMINENT Mali holds national elections Sunday, July 28 2013. The two candidates with the highest number of votes will move on to a run-off election in August. A new president and a new administration are about to be formed. THE PROBLEM OF CHILD SOLDIERS IN MALI The recent conflict in North Mali has raised yet again the problem of children as victims of war. Girls are even more vulnerable than boys: this is proven by the rumored rapes that took place in the city of Gao last summer, when it was invaded and taken over first by MNLA troops from the former L...

Women, War & Peace Conference September 20-21, 2013 will feature the fantastic music of Cheikh Hamala Diabate and his daughter Aissata Diabate! And in 2014, Look who's coming: http://modlin.richmond.edu/events/modlinarts-presents/mali-music.html Unh. So Exciting!!!