CEOAFRICA.com gathered that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has congratulated Ibrahim Boubacar Keita for his victory in Mali’s presidential run-off election on Sunday.

According to a statement released by Sonny Ugoh, ECOWAS communication director, the president-elect was urged to rebuild the national cohesion of the country.

“We congratulate him for a hard-won victory. We also congratulate Malians for their confidence in the validity of the ballot box. The challenge that he [Keita] confronts is now to rebuild national cohesion, and see how he can pull the people of Mali together to address the challenges that confront the country's security, national economic reconstruction and the building of the confidence of the people once again.”

Boubacar Keita won in a re-run which was widely acclaimed as peaceful, transparent and credible by ECOWAS, African Union and other international observers.

However, some Malians say that despite the peaceful election, tensions remain in parts of the north where Islamic militants had been in control. 

Furthermore, Ugoh said ECOWAS is working with the United Nations-led troops in the country to strengthen security and ensure Mali maintains its territorial integrity.

“You can be sure that we will play our role within the U.N. mandate in ensuring that security challenges that confront Mali are addressed within the U.N. framework. You can also be sure that as neighbors and members of the same regional community working to promote the integration of the citizens of West Africa that we will continue to remain engaged with Mali until all these problems are resolved.” He concluded.

Mali was often cited as a model of stable democracy in West Africa before the overthrow of President Amadou Toumani Toure, which analysts say cleared the way for Islamic militants to seize control of some of the northern parts of the country.