Burkina Faso’s military government has announced a five-year extension of junta rule, allowing Capt Ibrahim Traoré to contest the next presidential election, as reported by the state-owned broadcaster.
This decision diverges from Capt Traoré’s initial pledge to restore civilian government by July 1 this year, marking a continuity of military leadership similar to neighboring Mali.
The announcement, following a national consultation meeting in Ouagadougou, revealed an amended charter signed by Capt Traoré, setting the new transition period to start from July 2 this year.
The charter noted that elections could be held earlier if the security situation permits.
Burkina Faso has been under military governance since Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba’s coup in January 2022, citing the failure of the previous government to address militant Islamist violence.
The insurgency by jihadist rebels affiliated with Al-Qaeda and ISIS since 2015 has led to thousands of deaths and mass displacements.
Capt Traoré’s coup against Col Damiba in September 2022, deemed necessary due to Damiba’s perceived inability to handle the insurgency, promised swift security improvements and a return to civilian rule within 21 months.
However, Traoré has since prioritized security over elections, linking voting to territory recaptured from jihadists to ensure all citizens can participate safely.
The new charter also alters the parliamentary seat allocation criteria, shifting from quotas for traditional parties to selecting deputies based on “patriotism” alone, as per AFP.
Notably, political parties were reportedly absent at the consultation’s onset, indicating the swift decision-making process.
International organizations like the European Union and UN have accused Burkina Faso of human rights violations in combating Islamists, including indiscriminate killings and forced disappearances.
Source-BBC
