Burkina Faso extends military rule by five years

The military had promised elections in July to restore civilian rule, but it also said security would take priority.

Burkina Faso’s military rulers will remain in power for another five years after national talks ended in agreeing to extend the transition back to democracy by 60 months from July, according to the text of an approved new charter.

“The duration of the transition is fixed at 60 months from July 2, 2024,” Colonel Moussa Diallo, chairman of the organising committee of the national dialogue process, said after the talks on Saturday.

The new charter was signed during what was originally a two-day national dialogue that began earlier on Saturday, ostensibly to chart a way back to civilian rule in the country rocked by political violence.

The military seized power in a 2022 coup and had promised to hold elections in July of this year to restore civilian rule, but it also said security considerations would take priority.

“The elections marking the end of the transition may be organised before this deadline if the security situation so permits,” the new charter, signed by military leader Ibrahim Traore, states.