Washington, DC — Mali is set to make history Saturday as one democratically elected president hands over power to another duly-elected leader for the first time in the country's history since independence in 1960.
The outgoing president of the past 10 years, Alpha Oumar Konare, is standing down after serving a maximum two-term limit. His successor is the former general and coup leader, Amadou Toumani Toure, who seized power during a military takeover in March 1991.
In a popular revolution, Toure -- known simply by his initials ATT -- toppled the then autocratic leader, another soldier General Moussa Traore. Toure was hailed a hero by Mali's people for ridding them of a dictator who had done nothing to develop the country during almost 23 years in power and allowed his troops to kill protesters against his regime.
Traore was brought to trial and given a death sentence, which was commuted to life. He has just been awarded a presidential pardon by Konare.
After overseeing a one-year transition, culminating in multiparty elections, ATT earned the title of "soldier of democracy" and more plaudits in 1992, by keeping his pledge and handing power to the new civilian government of the constitutionally elected Konare. The general was again praised, in and outside Mali, for demonstrating that not all African soldiers are determined to cling to power once in office.
At the time, ATT said he was ready to leave politics behind and always refused to be called 'president'. He was officially known as a 'head of state'.
Now ATT, a youthful 53, is greying gently. On Saturday, he will take over from Konare, the same man he saw sworn in as president on the same date ten years ago.
Since passing the reigns to an elected leadership, ATT has kept a lower profile back home, spending most of his time as a roving continental peacekeeper, offering his good offices in the conflict in the Central African Republic, for example. He has also run his children's charity and pursues other humanitarian projects, such as fighting poverty and guinea worm with the Carter Center of former U.S. president Jimmy Carter.
ATT became something of a darling of the west, especially the Americans, and a case study of 'the soldier of democracy'.
When ATT took early retirement from the army in 2001, trading military fatigues for fabulous flowing 'boubous', he re-entered the political fray and threw his hat into the presidential election ring. Many Malians then questioned why a man feted for the honourable way in which he had run the country should now want to meddle in the "dirty game" of politics.
ATT's answer is that politics is one thing; leading your country is another. He told allAfrica.com in April that, if he had something to contribute to Mali, becoming president may be the opportunity to again prove his worth to his people. He says politics is divisive. One of his campaign slogans was that he would unite Malians, bring everyone closer together and help them reconcile with the past.
Critics complain that the lure of leadership, ambition and power may have been too much for ATT to resist.
He warns, though, that behind every bad politician lurks a potential coup maker and has himself shunned the norm in Africa of creating a political party to back him. The former parachute commando, who trained in Mali, the former Soviet Union and in France, stood as an independent during the presidential elections, though he benefited from the support of a coalition of almost 30 parties.
During the second round run-off against Soumaila Cisse, the official candidate of Konare's governing Alliance for Democracy in Mali (ADEMA) party, another influential group of parties threw its support behind ATT, virtually assuring him of victory in the election, which he won comfortably.
He is also widely believed to have had the tacit backing of Konare, who was criticised by his own party's presidential candidate of having betrayed Cisse.
Whatever Malians may think of Amadou Toumani Toure, most agree that he earned his reputation as the quintessential soldier and as a modest and gracious man of honour, with impeccable manners and international credentials. Most do not see their new leader as a politician, though they saw another side of him during the election campaign, with journalists reporting displays of temper and impatience.
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ATT will need both patience and some of the nifty political footwork of his predecessor, Konare, to govern Mali, a vast and desperately poor country that is mostly made up of (Sahara) desert. He will have to juggle positions and satisfy more than 40 political parties that stood behind him, no mean feat for a one-time soldier who says he believes in action not words.
Education and health are other priorities for the new Malian president, as well as the fight against corruption.
ATT has a tough task ahead of him. He has acknowledged that the job that lies before him is "immense", saying, "The political terrain is much rougher than the military".
Malians were prepared to die for democracy ten years ago. A decade later, they want to enjoy the dividends of that democracy and, somewhat disillusioned with the political class, are looking for a leader who will bring back both hope and spirit and improve their lives.
Born in the northern city of Mopti, ATT is married to Lobo, and they have two daughters. He began his professional career as a teacher in 1966, before joining the army three years later.
