Byu Student Running For President Of Mali

[cdowis]

Mali has been a hotbed of Islamic extremism of late, as al Qaeda operatives have taken the West African nation by storm. As the country deals with an influx of violence, a presidential election is slated for this year — and there’s a fascinating candidate running for office. Yeah Samake, 42, a Mormon who was born and raised in Mali, is hoping to win the presidency and to save his homeland from the grips of extremism.

Samake is currently one of the top candidates in the race — a democratic election that was pushed off last year after extremist activity caused delays. Receiving an education in the West, the candidate attended Brigham Young University and has a unique perspective about how to save his nation from the cusp of disaster.

At a speech this week at Sand Creek Middle school in Ammon, Idaho, Samake told students about life in Mali and shared his personal story. One of 18 children, he lived in extreme poverty, however he credited his father with teaching him the importance of education. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in Mali, he went on for a master’s at Brigham Young.

As far as governance goes, the candidate believes that true democracy is the key to Mali’s success.

“Democratic principals bring a country from poverty to abundance,” he told the students. ”Local leaders are the main actors in the development process. We have to make sure how to empower local leadership.”

And Samake would know a little bit about how these principles are put into action. After his time at the Mormon university, he went back to his country and settled in Ouelessebougou, the municipality he was raised in. Today, he is a mayor there, managing 44 villages with openness and transparency.

http://www.theblaze....ding-democracy/

He also has a website http://samake2012.com/video

[Tacenda]

That's awesome! There might be a mormon president somewhere after all. I wonder what his chances are.

[blackstrap]

If he wins,his chances of being shot at go way up .

[Tacenda]

If he wins,his chances of being shot at go way up .

That's not so awesome.

[cdowis]

AS I understand, he is the mayor of a group of villages. One major achievement is that he promised that the tax collections would go directly into the treasury and not into the pockets of the politicians. Tax revenue went up from 10% to 65%. Basically he was bringing honesty and integrity into the government. He can use our prayers and support.

[Stargazer]

I actually scooped you on this several months ago, cdowis:

http://www.mormondialogue.org/topic/57940-mitts-not-the-only-mormon-running-for-president/page__hl__mali

But this looks like updated information, so that's great! Thanks for posting it!

[rongo]

His initial election should have been what, two years ago? But the Islamist takeover of northern Mali delayed the election. Rooting out the Islamist elements in the north (which includes Timbuktu, the only tourist attraction in Mali) will be a tall order.

He might just have a chance of winning. His father before him was a mayor over ca. 50 villages, and Samake and his "Mali Rising" foundation have founded schools all over the country. He has a good reputation among his ca. 50 villages for competency and rooting out inherent corruption. The question is whether he can convince the majority of people outside his sphere of influence to vote for him.

[Avatar4321]

I don't know the other candidates, but he seems like a good man. I hope he can bring peace, stability, and prosperity to Mali. The nation desperately needs it. If he isnt elected, I hope whomever is elected can do the same.

[Stargazer]

His initial election should have been what, two years ago? But the Islamist takeover of northern Mali delayed the election. Rooting out the Islamist elements in the north (which includes Timbuktu, the only tourist attraction in Mali) will be a tall order.

He might just have a chance of winning. His father before him was a mayor over ca. 50 villages, and Samake and his "Mali Rising" foundation have founded schools all over the country. He has a good reputation among his ca. 50 villages for competency and rooting out inherent corruption. The question is whether he can convince the majority of people outside his sphere of influence to vote for him.

Actually, his father wasn't mayor. Yeah Samake is the mayor.

The election should have been in spring 2012, so less than a year ago.

[rongo]

Actually, his father wasn't mayor. Yeah Samake is the mayor.

The election should have been in spring 2012, so less than a year ago.

I'm pretty sure his father before him was a mayor over many villages, too. Could be wrong about that, though.

[Stargazer]

I'm pretty sure his father before him was a mayor over many villages, too. Could be wrong about that, though.

You are, sorry! Nothing he says about himself in his campaign video or on his website, nor in the Wikipedia biography about him, says his father was a mayor. In fact, he specifically says that he grew up in poverty, something that would have been unlikely if his father had been the mayor over several villages.