Madagascar still has a wait ahead but it looks like the next man to lead the impoverished country is the current president's choice, candidate Hery. His rival is demanding a recount ahead of the final results. The former Rwandan spy chief found dead in a South African hotel reportedly agreed to scrap his security detail. Kigali denies its hunting down defectors. The last two years have been tough for Mali and the thousands of its people who have fled unrest but many are willing to risk a return.

By Georja CALVIN-SMITH