Burkina Faso’s military leadership will maintain control for an additional five years following the signing of a new charter on Saturday, May 25, after national consultations in Ouagadougou. The discussions included civil society representatives, security forces, and transitional lawmakers, although most political parties abstained from participating.
“The duration of the transition is fixed at 60 months from July 2, 2024,” announced Col. Moussa Diallo, head of the national dialogue organizing committee, during a speech concluding the consultations.
Burkina Faso joins a growing number of West African nations where the military has assumed power, citing the inability of elected governments to fulfill their promises. The current leader took control in September 2022, overthrowing the military regime of Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who himself had led a coup against the democratically elected President Roch Kaboré just eight months earlier.
The transitional government has been operating under a constitution approved by a national assembly comprising military officers, civil society groups, and traditional and religious leaders.
Initially, the military leadership aimed to hold elections to restore democratic governance by July 2024. In the process, Capt. Ibrahim Traore was appointed as the transitional president.
The West African nation is still facing escalating attacks from extremists affiliated with al-Qaida and Islamic State group. The violence has resulted in thousands of deaths. It pushed tens of thousands to the brink of starvation, while displacing over 2 million people.
Unhappy with years of unfruitful Western military assistance, they ended military cooperation with its former colonial ruler, France. They have then sought security support from Russia instead.
Under the new charter, Traore will be eligible to run in elections at the conclusion of the five-year transition period. However, the charter also allows for the possibility of holding elections before the end of the transition period.
AfrikPage
New charter grants Burkina Faso’s military leadership five years
