The military promised elections in July to restore civilian rule, but also said security would take priority.
Burkina Faso’s military rulers will remain in power for another five years after national talks ended with an agreement to extend the transition back to democracy for 60 months from July, according to the text of a newly approved charter.
“The duration of the transition is set at 60 months from July 2, 2024,” said Colonel Moussa Diallo, president of the organizing committee of the national dialogue process, after Saturday’s talks.
The new letter was signed during what was originally a two-day national dialogue that began on Saturday, apparently to chart a path back to civilian rule in the country rocked by political violence.
The military seized power in a coup in 2022 and promised to hold elections in July this year to restore civilian rule, but also said security considerations would take priority.
“The elections that mark the end of the transition can be organized before this deadline if the security situation allows,” states the new letter, signed by military leader Ibrahim Traore.
The letter also allows Traore to run for president when elections take place.
Under the new agreement, quotas will also no longer be used to allocate assembly seats to members of traditional parties. Instead, “patriotism” will be considered the sole criterion for selecting deputies.
Representatives of civil society, security and defense forces and lawmakers in the transitional assembly participated in the talks in Ouagadougou, which were boycotted by many political parties.
The delay is likely to deepen concerns about democratic backsliding in West and Central Africa, a region that has seen eight coups d’état in the past four years.
In Burkina Faso, armed groups have waged a rebellion since 2015 that has killed thousands of people and displaced millions. The country’s military government has struggled to address its security challenges – which is why it claimed to have taken power in September 2022.
The government has cut military ties with the former French colonial ruler and turned to Russia for security support. About half of Burkina Faso’s territory remains outside government control.
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
