Burkina Faso extends military rule by five years

The military junta in Burkina Faso says it will extend its rule by another five years.

BBC reports the state-owned broadcaster as stating that Ibrahim Traoré, a captain and the country’s military ruler, will be eligible to contest the next presidential election.

Burkina Faso is one of the three countries in West Africa being ruled by juntas.

Traoré seized power on September 30, 2022.

The coup leaders had said their putsch would help fix the country’s political instability.

However, there has been an attempt to wrest power from the junta at least twice.

The decision to return to democratic rule after five years followed a national consultation meeting in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital city.

A 60-month transition period will begin on July 2 this year, according to an amended charter.

“The elections marking the end of the transition may be organised before this deadline if the security situation so permits,” the charter reads.

Traoré said he took over power because Paul-Henri Damiba, his predecessor, could not address the insurgency confronting the country.

Damiba had seized power from President Roch Kaboré.

Since 2015, jihadist rebels affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, have waged an insurgency against the West African nation that has led to the deaths of thousands and displacement of millions.