Soumaila Cisse Concedes Defeat in Mali's Presidential Election

Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has won the first presidential election in Mali since the French-led intervention

BAMAKO, MALI — Mali is still waiting on full provisional results from Sunday's run-off election, but that announcement has become a bit of afterthought now that one of the two candidates has formally conceded defeat.

Ibrahim Boubacar Keita may have won Mali's presidential run-off, but it was his rival, Soumaila Cisse, who was the star in the capital, Bamako, on Tuesday.

Cisse had gone to Keita's house Monday night, 24 hours after polls closed, to concede defeat and wish him well. Unofficial results show Keita with a strong lead.