Burkina Faso Junta Takes Over Elections, Disbands Electoral Commission

The military regime in Burkina Faso has disbanded the electoral commission, citing it as a financial drain, while planning to manage future elections directly through the interior ministry.

Burkina Faso's military leadership has made the decision to dissolve the electoral commission, which they labeled a "waste of money," and intend to transfer the responsibility of managing future elections to the interior ministry, according to state media RTB TV. This action follows their seizure of power in September 2022 during a coup that arose from public discontent over the government's failure to address rampant jihadist violence.

Since the military takeover, Capt. Ibrahim Traoré and his junta have introduced significant reforms, including deferring elections meant to restore civilian governance to July 2029, thereby allowing Traoré to maintain authority and run in the next presidential election. Minister of Territorial Administration, Emile Zerbo, emphasized that the commission's annual budget of approximately $870,000 (£650,000) was a drain on resources. He argued that abolishing it would enhance national control over electoral processes and diminish foreign influence.

Moreover, the junta has rejected military aid from France, the former colonial power, opting instead for support from Russia. Rights organizations have raised alarms about the military’s tactics against alleged insurgents, claiming that civilian populations have become victims of their operations. The efficacy of these military strategies is also in doubt, as data shows that jihadist group JNIM doubled its attacks in the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year, increasing safety concerns across the nation.

As the political environment continues to shift, many Burkinabés remain on edge regarding the future of governance and security in a country beleaguered by extremist violence and military oversight.