Former Malian Sprinter Keita Elected to Continental Post

Mali Athletics Federation president Sangare Aminata Keita is the new Confederation of Africa Athletics (CAA) women’s vice president.

Keita was unanimously elected on Tuesday during the CAA Congress in Abidjan, Cote D’Ívoire that was attended by International Association of Athletics Federation president Sebastian Coe.

CAA president Hamad Kalkaba from Cameroon retained his position after he garnered 44 votes, beating Amara Khaled from Tunisia, who got seven votes.

“I would say to my friend Amara that he is a reliable partner of African athletics. We know each other since 1999 in Abidjan. We finished a competition, I would like to thank him for his fair play spirit. He had a good spirit. I am today’s winner but he will be the winner of tomorrow. Let’s work hand in hand,” declared Kalkaba after the election.

Kalkaba has been at the helm of CAA since 2003 after taking over from Lamine Diack who went on to become president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) from 1999 to 2015.

Athletics Kenya president Jackson Tuwei was elected senior vice president in addition to other four other vice presidents. They include Bruno Konga (Central Africa Republic), Moses Bantsi (Botswana), Abdelhakim Dib from Algerian and Ibrahim Shehu of Nigeria.

The seven will work with other 12 members from across the continent.