This Saturday, May 25, national consultations in Burkina Faso resulted in the signing of a new charter, thus formalizing the maintenance of the military leader in power for a period of five additional years. This decision follows talks that brought together various actors from Burkinabe society in Ouagadougou, including civil society, security forces and transition legislators. However, the majority of political parties did not take part in these discussions.
Colonel Moussa Diallo, president of the organizing committee of the national dialogue process, announced that “the duration of the transition is set at 60 months from July 2, 2024”. This decision marks an important step in the political landscape of Burkina Faso, which is facing a period of transition following the takeover of power by the military junta in September 2022.
This junta had justified its coup d’état by accusing the elected governments of not having kept their promises. Since then, the transitional government has been established, operating under a constitution approved by a national assembly composed of army officers, civil society groups, and traditional and religious leaders. The goal of this transition is to conduct elections aimed at restoring democratic rule by July 2024.
Captain Ibrahim Traoré has been appointed president of the transition, but the junta is struggling to resolve persistent security challenges in Burkina Faso, the main reason for his coming to power in 2022. Nearly half of Burkina Faso territory still escapes government control , facing an increase in attacks by extremist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
The security instability has had devastating consequences, causing thousands of deaths, the displacement of more than two million people and putting tens of thousands more in a situation of famine. Noticing a lack of progress despite Western military assistance, the junta severed its military ties with France, a former colonial power, and turned to Russia for security support.
The new charter will allow Ibrahim Traoré to stand for election at the end of the five-year transition period. However, it does not exclude the possibility of organizing early elections before the end of this period. The political future of Burkina Faso remains marked by uncertainty and the need to respond to the security and political challenges facing the country.
The signing of this new charter marks a key stage in the evolution of Burkina Faso, and underlines the crucial issues that the country must face to emerge from this transition period and regain political and security stability.