[5] In January 2002, he resigned from the government to devote himself to preparation for the 2002 presidential election, and ADEMA-PASJ selected him as its candidate to succeed Alpha Oumar Konaré.

[3] He subsequently served as President of the Commission of the West African Monetary Union (UEMOA) from 2004 to 2011.

[9][10] Cissé spoke out against the 2012 Malian coup d'état and was badly wounded on 18 April when men attacked him at his house.

[2] On 26 March 2020, while on a campaign trip in Timbuktu region, Cissé was taken hostage by an unknown jihadist group.

[12] It was later confirmed that he had been abducted by Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin, and he was released, alongside Sophie Pétronin, on 6 October.