"Before it collapsed last year, Mali was long seen as an island of political stability in West Africa, partly due its system of governments of national unity set up by former president Amadou Toumani Toure. While avoiding post-election violence seen elsewhere in the region, critics say the tradition of coopting parties denied Mali any form of opposition and fomented a culture of corruption and impunity that led to the northern rebellion and a coup in the capital." (Quoted from article)