Latest news with #militaryrule
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Burkina Faso ruling junta dissolves independent electoral commission
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Burkina Faso's military rulers have dissolved the country's independent electoral commission, authorities said. Since taking power in a 2022 coup, the West African country's military leaders have launched sweeping reforms, including postponing elections that were expected to restore civilian rule. The government passed a law late Wednesday abolishing the Independent National Electoral Commission, which is responsible for organizing elections, citing its high cost, Minister of Territorial Administration Emile Zerbo said after a Cabinet meeting. Abolishing the electoral commission will reinforce the country's 'sovereign control on the electoral process' and 'limit foreign influences,' Zerbo added. The state run television broadcaster RTB said the interior ministry will take control of future polls. The junta in Burkina Faso seized power in Sept. 2022 by ousting the military rule of Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba about eight months after it staged a coup to remove democratically elected President Roch Marc Kaboré. The country is one of several West African nations where the military has taken over in recent years, capitalizing on popular discontent with previous democratically elected governments over security issues. The junta had initially set a goal of conducting elections to return the country to democratic rule by July 2024 but last year it signed a new charter that allows the country's leader Capt. Ibrahim Traoré to remain in office until July 2029. The transitional government has been running Burkina Faso under a constitution approved by a national assembly that included army officers, civil society groups and traditional and religious leaders.
Washington Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Burkina Faso ruling junta dissolves independent electoral commission
DAKAR, Senegal — Burkina Faso's military rulers have dissolved the country's independent electoral commission, authorities said. Since taking power in a 2022 coup, the West African country's military leaders have launched sweeping reforms, including postponing elections that were expected to restore civilian rule . The government passed a law late Wednesday abolishing the Independent National Electoral Commission, which is responsible for organizing elections, citing its high cost, Minister of Territorial Administration Emile Zerbo said after a Cabinet meeting.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Burkina Faso's military rulers abolish electoral commission
Burkina Faso's military rulers have disbanded the country's electoral commission calling it a waste of interior ministry will handle elections in the future, state-run RTB TV seizing power in September 2022, the coup leaders have initiated sweeping reforms, including the postponement of elections which would lead to a return to civilian rule.A nationwide vote was due last year, but the junta extended the period of transition to democracy until July 2029, allowing leader Capt Ibrahim Traoré to remain in power and free to contest the next presidential election. The AFP news agency quotes Territorial Administration Minister Emile Zerbo as saying that the electoral commission was "subsidised" with around $870,000 (£650,000) a the commission would "reinforce our sovereign control on the electoral process and at the same time limit foreign influences", he added. How an al-Qaeda offshoot became one of Africa's deadliest militant groupsWhy Burkina Faso's junta leader has captured hearts around the worldHow 'blood gold' is fuelling conflict in West Africa After coming to power three years ago amid criticism that the civilian authorities were failing to deal with a growing Islamist insurgency, the military leaders have rejected the assistance of former colonial power France in favour of groups have since accused the army of targeting civilians in its attempt to quash the militants, as well as suppressing political activity and the freedom of are also question marks over the effectiveness of the military operation. In the first half of 2025, jihadist group JNIM said it had carried out over 280 attacks in Burkina Faso – double the number for the same period in 2024, according to data verified by the reporting by BBC Monitoring and David Bamford. Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Mali military leader extend presidential rule, remove term limit... Who else fit follow?
Despite im promise to return democracy to im country, Mali military leader, General Assimi Goita, don secure five-year presidential term from di transitional parliament and e no need to hold elections. Di parliament approve di new bill last week, and di bill tok say 41-year-old General Goita fit renew im mandate "as many times as necessary" and until Mali dey "pacified". Dis don clear di general to lead di West African kontri until at least 2030. Mali na one of di six kontris for di Sahel region – Mali, Chad, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger and Sudan - wey don all experience coups since 2020. Sabi pipo say oda kontris wey bin get coups like Mali fit follow dia example now and suspend presidential elections. Restoring democratic rule? General Goita bin come to power in 2020 afta e comot former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita for coup. Less dan one year later, di general launch second coup to remove two civilians who been dey appointed sake of international pressure to bring Mali bak to democratic rule. General Goita den push UN forces comot from im kontri and cut ties wit dia former colonial power France. Neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, who bin also experience military-led coups for 2022 and 2023 respectively, follow Mali example to stop dia relationship wit France and make friends wit Russia. Di three kontris later withdraw dia membership from di Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), to avoid pressure to restore democratic rule. General Goita now na di leader of di Alliance of the Sahel States (AES) wey Mali, Burkino Faso and Niger form new. As e don show say e sabi how to do political manoeuvring, sabi pipo say Goita dey chart course for Burkina Faso military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore, and di one for Niger General Abdourahmane Tchiane. "Wit dia effective use of misinformation and propaganda especially tru social media, dem don dey warm dia way into di hearts of pipo, especially di youths even for outside dia kontris," Kabiru Adamu, security expert and Executive Director of Beacon Security and Intelligence, tok about di three leaders. Adamu say Mali na di symbol of di complex social and political issues wey dey drive insecurity for di Sahel region, including attacks by armed Islamic groups, communal violence, human rights concerns and economic challenges. E say di military-led govment for Mali capital Bamako so far don fail to achieve any of dia stated objectives around national security, institutional reform and return to democratic rule. Instead, e dey use populism and a dislike of French control to stay in power. "But dis no go last," Adamu warn. "Crisis dey shele for Mali and e go get ogbonge consequences for di region," e tok. Opposition crackdown Since e enta power, General Goita don dey look for help from Russia to quench di jihadist violence by groups wey get link with di Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda. For im continued crackdown on dissent, di military junta don also banned evri political party for Mali. Since e introduce di ban in May, e don put two opposition leaders for detention afta a rare pro-democracy protest. Paul Ejime, global affairs analyst and publisher of say dem dey suppress di media for Mali and dia neighbouring kontris. E say afta Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger bin withdraw from ECOWAS, e dey clear say di three kontris want to dey operate witout pressure to return to civilian rule. "From wetin dey happen for Mali, e show say di military govment na opportunist power grabbers," e tok. "You can see di massive ongoing repression." However, Ejime say although di junta dey currently ride di wave of anti-French sentiment, opposition to dia rule dey increase. International affairs expert and media consultant, Ilyasu Gadu, describe wetin dey happen for Mali as "worrying and disturbing development". "Di fear be say e go dey contagious and e go spread to di oda neighbours," e tok. "If you check out di political developments for all di three kontris, na always di same. "Dem bin come like say dem be messiah, claiming say dem wan to restore order, preying on di ill-feelings of di pipo against dia democratic goment and promising wetin dem no fit fulfil, just to get into power."
Free Malaysia Today
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Myanmar groups urged to create conducive environment for polls
The Myanmar junta has announced plans to hold an election this year despite the ongoing unrest. (Reuters pic) KUALA LUMPUR : Foreign minister Mohamad Hasan has called on all parties in Myanmar to create a conducive environment for elections. 'We call on all stakeholders, particularly the State Administration Council (SAC), as the de facto party in power, to commit towards peace and the creation of a conducive environment for elections, in line with the aspirations of the people of Myanmar,' he said in his opening remarks at the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting today. At the foreign ministers' retreat in Langkawi earlier this year, the bloc urged Myanmar's military government to prioritise peace through dialogue and a ceasefire agreement, rather than pushing ahead with elections. It is unclear whether Mohamad's remarks signal that Asean chair Malaysia is now open to the military's planned vote, which critics call a ploy to maintain military rule under the guise of democracy. Mohamad also called for the translation of proclamations of ceasefires to concrete actions. 'Despite Asean's sustained efforts, we have yet to see meaningful progress on the ground. Delaying peace in Myanmar prolongs the suffering of the people and threatens the region's security. 'Asean will continue to support the path towards a Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led peaceful resolution,' he said. Myanmar has been in turmoil since February 2021, when the military overthrew the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy. The coup sparked widespread protests and civil unrest across the country, leading to violent crackdowns by the military junta that saw hundreds of thousands displaced. The junta has announced plans to hold an election this year despite widespread international condemnation and internal strife. Earlier during the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged in his speech the complexity of the Myanmar crisis, noting that contentious issues such as the Five-Point Consensus remained unresolved. 'When we discussed with the leaders, without exception, there was full support and confidence,' he said. 'So, similarly, after the event, we were able to engage again to seek a common platform and better understand how to proceed.'
