Burkina Faso’s Transitional Legislative Assembly has officially voted to dissolve the country’s Independent National Electoral Commission, an institution that has operated for more than two decades.
This decision confirms the bill introduced in July by the military-led government under Captain Ibrahim Traoré. The ruling junta had previously criticized the commission, describing it as unnecessary spending and vulnerable to what they claimed was “foreign interference.”
According to the new legislation, election management will now fall under the Ministry of Territorial Administration, giving the military authorities direct oversight of future electoral processes.
When the military seized power in September 2022, leaders pledged to return the country to civilian rule within 21 months. However, in May of last year, the junta extended the transition period by an additional five years and stated that Traoré would be eligible to run in the next presidential election.
Since taking control, the military government has distanced itself from Western allies, particularly former colonial power France and has strengthened political, economic, and strategic ties with Russia.
