Voting underway in Burkina Faso after a year of turmoil

Scores of eligible Burkinabe’s are trooping out in their numbers to exercise their civic rights as voting is currently underway to elect a new president and parliament, a year after a popular uprising toppled longstanding president, Blaise Compaore.
The election which was earlier scheduled to be staged last month but was delayed by a failed coup in September led by members of the elite presidential guard is expected to usher in fresh hope for the future of the West African country.

Read also: Burkina Faso coup leader charged with murder

Security is tight with up to 25,000 troops expected to be deployed across the country.
The election is meant to mark the end of the transitional period following Mr Compaore’s removal. Analysts say it could be the most open and democratic vote in the country’s history.
“For the first time in 50 years there is an electoral uncertainty… we don’t know the winner in advance,” said Abdoulaye Soma, head of Burkina Faso’s society of constitutional law.
“This is a positive point and a fundamental change from the other elections that we had seen earlier.”

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now