Burkina Faso’s military leader has signed a new charter following a national consultation which allows him to remain in power for five more years before transition to a new government is done.
The new charter signed on Saturday at a transitional assembly in Ouagadougou had civil society representatives, the security and defense forces, lawmakers in attendance although it was boycotted by most political parties.
“The duration of the transition is fixed at 60 months from July 2, 2024,” said Col. Moussa Diallo, the chairman of the organizing committee of the national dialogue process, in a speech after the talks.
Burkina Faso one of the least developed countries in the world has had its share of military coup d’etat with its recent junta in September 2022 which ousted the military regime Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba about eight months after it staged a coup to remove democratically elected President Roch Marc Kaboré.
The junta had set a goal of conducting elections to return the country to democratic rule by July 2024 but with the extension of the transition date, military leader Capt Ibrahim Traore will continue to remain in power as president.
Despite the take over of government by the military the economic and security challenges still persist. Around half of Burkina Faso’s territory remains outside of government control.
According to the charter, Traore will be able to run in elections at the end of the five-year transition period. However, the charter also retains the possibility of holding elections before the end of the transition period.
