Burkina Faso Junta Disbands Electoral Commission, Assumes Control of Elections

In a move aimed at consolidating power, Burkina Faso’s military government has announced the dissolution of the electoral commission, deeming it an unnecessary expenditure. According to state-run RTB TV, the country’s interior ministry will now oversee future elections. This change comes as a continuation of the junta's reforms since seizing control in September 2022, which included delaying elections planned for the return to civilian governance. Originally anticipated last year, the transitional period has been extended until July 2029, effectively allowing Capt. Ibrahim Traoré, who leads the government, to remain in power and participate in upcoming presidential elections.

Territorial Administration Minister Emile Zerbo justified the dissolution by claiming the electoral commission cost approximately $870,000 annually and stating that this abolition would bolster national control over elections while minimizing external influences. The junta has been criticized for its handling of the Islamist violence plaguing the nation over the past few years, having shifted its alliances from former colonial power France to Russia for military assistance. However, this shift has raised concerns over increasing violations of human rights, with reports of civilian targeting amid wartime struggles.

Since the military's rise to power, the frequency of jihadist attacks has intensified. Data from BBC verifies that the jihadist group JNIM conducted over 280 assaults in Burkina Faso in the first half of 2025, doubling the figures from the previous year. Meanwhile, civil liberties suffer as the regime suppresses dissent and public expression, raising alarms about the state of democracy in the nation under military rule.

The international community and local rights groups remain watchful as these developments unfold, questioning the junta's commitment to ultimately restoring a democratic framework in Burkina Faso.