Malians headed to the polls on Sunday for a long- delayed parliamentary election just hours after the country recorded its first coronavirus death and with the leading opposition figure kidnapped and believed to be in the hands of jihadists .
There were security fears about the vote even before the war -torn West African country recorded its first coronavirus infection on Wednesday .
Some 200 ,000 people displaced by the near- daily violence in Mali ’s centre and north will not be able to vote, because “no mechanism has been established ” for them to do so, a government official said .
There were also fears that the impoverished state of some 19 million people — where large swathes of territory lie outside state control — is particularly exposed to a COVID – 19 outbreak .
Late Saturday , just hours before polls opened at 0800 GMT Sunday, the country ’s first coronavirus death was announced , with the number of infections rising to 18 .
“I came to vote, but I ’m afraid,” said Souleymane Diallo , a 34 – year old teacher . “As you can see there ’s nobody here . Maybe because it’ s the morning , but it’ s also not surprising because of the situation.”
The poll will see new MPs elected to the 147 – seat National Assembly for the first time since 2013 , when President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita’s Rally for Mali party won a substantial majority .
Parliamentary elections were meant to take place again in late 2018 following Keita ’s re – election , but the poll was postponed several times , largely due to security concerns .
After Sunday’s first round vote, a second round is scheduled for April 19.
