WAEON is a regional network that brings together citizen election observation groups from across West Africa, including Burkina Faso (through partners such as the Mouvement Burkinabè des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples, MBDHP). Its role is to build capacity,…
The PACTE-BF project, implemented by ECES, aims to reinforce the credibility, transparency, and peaceful conduct of elections in Burkina Faso. It does this via legal support, capacity building, media monitoring, provision of electoral materials, logistical assistance, and supporting result transmission.…
EISA supports democratic processes across Africa, including in Burkina Faso, through election observation, technical assistance, and electoral reform. They work closely with national governments, election management bodies, and civil society to strengthen capacity for voter registration, polling, and dispute resolution,…
CODEL is a coalition of around twenty civil society organizations in Burkina Faso that work together to monitor elections. Established in 2015, they deploy observers (often in large numbers) to polling stations, coordinate a “situation room” to gather and verify…
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…
The Conseil Constitutionnel is the highest judicial body for constitutional and electoral matters in Burkina Faso. According to the constitution, it oversees the regularity, transparency, and sincerity of presidential, legislative, and referendum votes, and also rules on electoral disputes. It…
With the dissolution of CENI, the Ministry of Territorial Administration now assumes full responsibility for organizing elections in Burkina Faso. This includes tasks like voter registration, vote-counting, and overall electoral logistics that were formerly under the CENI’s purview. The transfer…
The Commission Électorale Nationale Indépendante (CENI) was historically the main election-management body in Burkina Faso. It was responsible for maintaining and managing the national voter register, organizing and supervising all electoral operations (including referenda), and overseeing fairness in campaign activities…
Observe West Africa is a youth-led, civic-driven platform dedicated to promoting transparent and inclusive elections across West Africa.
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.
