Burkina Faso’s military rulers have officially dismantled the country’s electoral commission, handing full control of the electoral process to the Ministry of Interior.
The announcement was made on state broadcaster RTB TV. Government officials described the commission as an unnecessary expense and claimed that its removal would strengthen national sovereignty over elections.
Junta Military Extends Control, Delays Return to Civilian Rule
Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who came to power in a 2022 coup, now remains at the center of Burkina Faso’s political future. A transition to civilian rule, initially promised for 2024, has been delayed until July 2029, giving Traoré five more years in office and the opportunity to run in the next presidential election.
Minister of Territorial Administration, Emile Zerbo, defended the move, stating that the electoral commission cost the government roughly $870,000 per year. He argued that scrapping it would reduce foreign influence and allow the state to fully oversee its own electoral processes.
Rising Violence and International Criticism
Burkina Faso’s internal conflict continues to escalate. More than 280 attacks by jihadist group JNIM have been recorded in the first half of 2025, doubling the number from the same period in 2024. The military government has cut ties with France, its former colonial power, and aligned more closely with Russia for military support.
Despite that alliance, the country’s security situation has not improved. Human rights groups have documented widespread abuses by the Burkinabe military, including mass killings of civilians, repression of political opposition, and restrictions on press freedom.
Political Reform or Power Consolidation?
The government frames the elimination of the electoral commission as a step toward independence and self-determination. Critics see it as a calculated move to consolidate power, bypass institutional checks, and push democratic governance even further out of reach.
With five more years before a promised election and no independent electoral body in place, Burkina Faso’s political direction is now firmly in the hands of its military leadership.
