Burkina Faso Extends Military Rule for Five More Years Despite Promises of Elections
Burkina Faso’s military rulers have decided to remain in power for an additional five years following national talks that concluded with an agreement to extend the transition back to democracy by 60 months from July. Colonel Moussa Diallo announced the decision after the national dialogue process on Saturday.
The new charter, signed by military leader Ibrahim Traore, stated that elections could be held before the end of the transition period if the security situation allows. The charter also permits Traore to run for president during the elections.
The agreement also abolished the use of quotas to assign seats in the assembly to members of traditional parties, with “patriotism” now being the sole criterion for selecting deputies. The talks in Ouagadougou included representatives from civil society, security forces, and lawmakers, although some political parties boycotted the discussions.
Despite the promise of elections, the military government has prioritized security concerns due to ongoing political violence and armed rebellion in the country. Burkina Faso’s leadership has cut ties with France and sought security support from Russia in an effort to address the security challenges it faces.