Ibrahim Traoré
Burkina Faso’s military rulers have scrapped the country’s Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI).
Ibrahim Traoré, Burkinabe junta leader and head of state, made the decision after presiding over the weekly council of ministers on Wednesday, according to Pingdwendé Ouédraogo, government spokesperson.
Emile Zerbo, the minister of state, said the “institutional reforms” were undertaken with the aim of rationalising the operating burdens of the state.
“Subsidized to nearly half a billion CFA francs each year, the existence of this structure today is totally inconsistent with the provisions of the Transition Charter in addition to being budget-hungry,” Ouédraogo quoted Zerbo as saying in a statement.
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According to the statement, Zerbo also cited an interference from foreign influences as reason for the decision, adding that it would “reinforce our sovereign control on the electoral process”.
The interior ministry will handle elections in the future, state-run RTB TV reported.
Since seizing power in September 2022, the coup leaders have initiated sweeping reforms, including the postponement of elections which would lead to a return to civilian rule.
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A nationwide vote was due last year, but the junta extended the period of transition to democracy until July 2029, allowing leader Traoré to remain in power and free to contest the next presidential election.
Meanwhile, earlier this month in neighbouring Mali, the transitional parliament granted Assimi Goïta, military leader, a five-year presidential term, renewable without elections.
