Voters peaceful but bitter in Malian rebel bastion The ethnic Tuareg National Liberation Movement of Azawad says it hasn't stopped anyone from voting in Kidal, a region of just 35,000 voters which is nevertheless seen as indicative of the success or failure of the election across the nation. Halfway through the election, at 1:00 pm, participation was expected to be very low in Kidal, with many of the majority Tuareg unwilling to forget that they had briefly declared independence in northern Mali after its capture by the MNLA and allied Islamist groups in January 2012. Images of the vote count in Kidal and soundbite from an election official.