The military junta extended its transition period for 60 months from July 2, 2024, meaning the transition is now set to last until July 2029. Junta leader Ibrahim Traoré has stated that elections will not be held until the security situation improves.
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is currently governed by a military junta led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who took power in a 2022 coup and has since extended military rule for five more years, postponing elections until 2029. The government’s priorities include addressing the jihadist insurgency, fostering a pan-Africanist ideology, and asserting greater control over the country’s mineral wealth through left-wing economic policies.
23.55M+
Population
100:93
Men-Women Ratio
18.3%
Women Representation
Overview
Burkina Faso was formerly a French colony (then known as Upper Volta), gaining independence in 1960, with Modibo Keita assuming presidency. It was renamed Burkina Faso meaning “land of upright people” in 1984 under Thomas Sankara, a symbol of anti-corruption and progressive reform. Politically, Burkina Faso has alternated between republican governance and periods of military rule, with a presidential system anchored in a unicameral legislature and an independent judiciary. The electoral framework traditionally featured two-round presidential elections and proportional representation for legislative and municipal posts. However, democratic processes have been repeatedly disrupted by coups and security crises.
Since independence, key political transitions have included:
– 1987: Sankara was assassinated; Blaise Compaoré took power and ruled for nearly 27 years.
– 2014: Compaoré was forced to resign amid mass protests over constitutional term-limit removal attempts.
– 2015: After a brief transitional period, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré was elected president in largely credible elections
– 2022: A series of coups saw the military oust Kaboré in January, then replace Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba with Captain Ibrahim Traoré in September; constitutional order was suspended, and elections delayed as national security deteriorated.
Electoral institutions have also been transformed, most recently, in 2025, the military junta abolished the independent electoral commission (CENI), transferring election administration to the Interior Ministry and further weakening democratic norms.
Upcoming Elections
General Elections
Postponed
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Participation Metrics
Voter Turnout
Voter turnout in Burkina Faso has fluctuated over time, shaped by security challenges, political transitions, and public trust in institutions. In stable periods, turnout has been moderately high, but in recent years, insecurity in northern and eastern regions has significantly reduced participation because many polling stations cannot open. Turnout is therefore often uneven, with urban areas voting more consistently than rural conflict-affected zones.
Registered Voters
The number of registered voters is determined through periodic nationwide voter registration campaigns led by the electoral authorities. However, displacement caused by conflict has made it difficult to maintain accurate and inclusive voter rolls. Many internally displaced persons (IDPs) have lost documentation or relocated multiple times, lowering registration rates in conflict-prone areas and potentially skewing national voter lists toward more stable regions.
Age / Youth
Youth form one of the largest voting blocs in Burkina Faso, as the country has a predominantly young population. While young people are often enthusiastic during election periods, their actual turnout can vary due to unemployment, disillusionment with political elites, and barriers such as difficulties obtaining voter cards. Youth engagement remains crucial: they are both the most numerous and often the most affected by national security and economic policies.
Gender
Women’s political participation has gradually increased, but gender disparities persist. Cultural norms, lower literacy rates among women, and security concerns in rural areas affect women’s ability to register and vote. Although women make up a significant portion of the population, their turnout is generally lower in regions facing conflict, where mobility and safety concerns disproportionately limit female participation.
Key Electoral Institutions
Political parties and the National Assembly
Political parties and the National Assembly are crucial to the functioning of Mauritania’s electoral system, even though they are not direct management bodies. Political parties mobilize citizens, nominate candidates, and monitor elections through agents and observers. The National Assembly contributes by debating and enacting electoral laws, shaping the legal framework within which CENI and other institutions operate. Together, they provide democratic oversight and ensure political pluralism in the electoral environment.
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Constitutional Council
They serve as the highest judicial authority on electoral and constitutional matters in Mauritania. It validates and proclaims final election results, particularly for presidential and parliamentary elections, and confirms the eligibility of presidential candidates. The Council also adjudicates electoral disputes, ensuring that elections comply with the constitution and legal framework. Its rulings are final and binding, giving it a central role in safeguarding the integrity and legitimacy of electoral outcomes.
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Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI)
This is Mauritania’s principal body responsible for organizing and supervising all elections, including presidential, parliamentary, regional, and municipal polls. It operates as an autonomous institution mandated to ensure transparency, neutrality, and fairness in the electoral process. CENI oversees voter registration, monitors campaign conduct, manages the logistics of voting and counting, and announces provisional results. Its members are appointed through political consensus, typically representing both ruling and opposition parties, to reinforce public confidence and political balance.
Contact Information
- Headquarters: Commission Électorale Nationale Indépendante (CENI) of Mauritania
- Mailing Address: B.P. 4550, Nouakchott, Mauritania
- Hotline: +222 45 24 15 40
- Email: ceni@ceni.mr
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Direction Générale des Élections (DGE)
The DGE is the main new electoral management body in Guinea, created by decree in 2025. It is responsible for organising elections (both elections and referendums), maintaining and managing the electoral register, and guaranteeing aspects of electoral fairness. The DGE also represents Guinea in regional and international electoral organisations.
Contact Information
- Headquarters: Direction Générale des Élections (DGE)
- Mailing Address: Based in Conakry, Commune de Dixinn
- Hotline: +224 628 00 00 00
- Email: contact@dge.gov.gn
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Judiciary (Election Petitions)
The High Court of The Gambia hears election petitions. (Election Petition Rules 1976 govern the process.)
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Electoral Laws & Policies
Constitutional Oversight
The Constitution of Burkina Faso remains the supreme legal authority regulating elections, defining political rights, universal suffrage, and democratic principles. The Constitutional Council enforces these rules by validating candidacies, reviewing electoral laws, resolving disputes, and confirming final election results. Its role ensures that electoral processes comply with constitutional norms and that any challenges have a legal channel.
Electoral Code
Burkina Faso’s primary legal framework for elections is the Electoral Code, originally established under Law No. 014-2001/AN and repeatedly amended to reflect political and security realities. It regulates voter registration, campaigning, polling procedures, candidate eligibility, and the formation of electoral bodies. Later amendments such as Law No. 034-2020/AN and Law No. 043-2021/AN, updated key provisions, including campaign timelines, security-related voting exceptions, and the structure and tenure of members of the electoral commission.
Reforms and Dissolution of CENI
A major shift occurred in 2025, when the transitional government passed a law dissolving CENI and transferring all electoral responsibilities to the Ministry of Territorial Administration. This reform centralized election management within the executive arm of government, justified by cost reduction and security concerns. The law also mandated the transfer of CENI’s assets, staff, and archives, fundamentally altering the institutional landscape of elections in Burkina Faso.
Accredited Election Monitoring Organizations
Recent Election Publication
News & Updates
Election Result Platform
How To Monitor Elections In
Burkina Faso
Purpose
Promote transparent, credible, and peaceful elections in Burkina Faso (presidential, legislative, and local elections).
Key Actors
International observers (regional bodies, foreign missions, NGOs)
Domestic observers (Burkinabé civil society coalitions)
Citizen observers (trained volunteers)
Media observers (press accreditation)
Accreditation and Legal Framework
Accreditation: Observers typically coordinate through the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) or accredited observer coalitions recognized by the CENI.
Legal basis: Observation is permitted under Burkina Faso electoral law; observers must follow accreditation rules, safety protocols, and non-interference guidelines.
Timelines: Accreditation windows open ahead of Election Day; apply via the CENI or recognized coalitions.
Observer Tracks
International observers: Regional bodies (ECOWAS, AU), international NGOs, donor missions.
Domestic observers: Burkinabé CSOs and coalitions.
Citizen observers: Trained individuals/teams linked to networks.
Media observers: Journalists with official press accreditation.
Planning and Preparation
Join a recognized observer network or coalition; secure credentials.
Define scope: polling stations, counting centers, results transmission, or broader sampling with urban/rural balance.
Training: pre-election briefings on procedures, indicators, safety, and ethics.
Tools: standardized checklists, incident reporting templates, offline data capture options; photography where permitted.
On Election Day
At polling stations:
Verify accreditation; observe access, queues, secrecy of the vote, and procedure compliance.
Record anomalies: delays, voter intimidation, missing materials, misprinted ballots.
Counting and transmission:
Observe counting where allowed; document procedures and deviations.
Monitor results transmission; compare with official figures when possible.
Reporting:
Use approved templates; escalate issues through coalition channels or official liaison points.
Post-Election Activities
Preliminary report: concise overview of turnout, trends, and anomalies.
Verification: cross-check with official results and other observer reports.
Public engagement: brief communities, media, and stakeholders; provide channels for reporting irregularities.
Follow-up: contribute to post-election reviews and reforms.
Ethical Principles
Impartiality, non-interference, accuracy, safety, and data privacy.
Respect voters, officials, and fellow observers; avoid disrupting processes.
Timeline (Condensed)
6–12 months before: join coalition, plan accreditation.
3–6 months before: complete training; finalize deployment plan.
Weeks before: confirm sampling; arrange logistics.
Election Day: observe and report.
1–2 weeks after: publish preliminary findings; submit final report.
Resources (where to start)
Burkina Faso electoral authority: Centre National de Recensement des Votes (CENI) or equivalent; look for accreditation guidelines.
Regional observers: ECOWAS, AU election missions; check their Burkina Faso liaison pages.
International partners: EU EOM, UNDP country programs, reputable NGOs.
Domestic CSOs: Burkinabé observer coalitions and academic partners.