Burkina Faso’s military government has announced an extension of junta rule for another five years. Capt Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power nearly two years ago, will be eligible to run in the next presidential election, according to a state-owned broadcaster.
When Capt Traoré took control in a coup, he initially pledged to return the country to civilian rule by July 1, 2023. However, the new transition period, established after a national consultation meeting in the capital, Ouagadougou, will now last for 60 months starting from July 2, 2023.
The amended charter allows for earlier elections if security conditions improve.
The military has governed Burkina Faso since January 2022, when Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba overthrew President Roch Kaboré, citing the previous government’s inability to address escalating Islamist militant violence.
The insurgency, led by groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, has caused thousands of deaths and displaced millions since 2015.
In September 2022, Capt Traoré ousted Col Damiba, claiming that another coup was necessary due to Damiba’s failure to curb the insurgency. Traoré had promised to enhance security within two to three months and restore civilian governance within 21 months.
However, he later stated that elections could not be prioritized until jihadist-held territories were recaptured, ensuring that all citizens could participate in the vote.
Under the revised charter, seats in the assembly will no longer be allocated based on party quotas; instead, “patriotism” will be the sole criterion for deputy selection.
The national consultation meeting that led to these decisions was reportedly conducted quickly and without the presence of political parties at the outset.
Burkina Faso’s government has faced accusations of serious human rights abuses, including indiscriminate killings and forced disappearances, in its fight against Islamist militants. International bodies like the European Union and the United Nations have raised concerns about these violations.
