Burkina Faso’s military junta, which seized power in a coup in 2022, has decided to prolong its rule for another five years, according to Colonel Moussa Diallo, head of the organizing committee for the national dialogue process. The decision came after discussions during a two-day national consultation session. The transition period will now last for 60 months, starting from July 2, 2024. The coup leader and acting president, Ibrahim Traore, will have the opportunity to run in future elections at the end of this transition period.
The military’s governance in Burkina Faso since 2022 has been marked by two coups, justified primarily by the country’s ongoing security challenges. Jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have waged a violent insurgency since 2015, resulting in numerous casualties and displacements.
The initial national dialogue led to the adoption of a charter that installed Traore as president, established a government, and formed a legislative assembly. However, under the new charter agreed upon during the recent talks, traditional party quotas for seats in the assembly will be replaced by selection based solely on “patriotism.” Most political parties boycotted the discussions, but civil society representatives, security forces, and lawmakers from the transitional assembly participated.
The extension of the transition period reflects Traore’s concerns about holding elections amidst the precarious security situation. Despite the initial charter setting the transition duration at 21 months, with a deadline of July 1, it was deemed impractical to organize elections within this timeframe.
The decision to prolong military rule has sparked criticism and concerns about the erosion of democratic principles in Burkina Faso. Civil society groups have raised objections to the exclusion of political parties from the dialogue process and the reliance on vague criteria like “patriotism” for selecting assembly members.
The military junta’s control over Burkina Faso’s governance raises questions about the country’s democratic future and the potential for further instability. With the insurgency ongoing and political tensions simmering, the path back to civilian rule remains uncertain.
SaharaReporters