Burkina Faso Junta Abolishes Electoral Commission, Citing ‘Foreign Influence’
By Okafor Joseph | SpringNewsNG Media Limited | July 24, 2025
OUAGADOUGOU – In a bold and controversial move, Burkina Faso’s military-led government under Captain Ibrahim Traoré has officially dissolved the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), a long-standing democratic institution charged with overseeing elections.
The decision was announced on July 17, 2025, via a decree issued by the transitional cabinet, citing the “urgent need to preserve national sovereignty” from what it called “unacceptable foreign influence and financing.”
According to the junta, the commission had become a tool for external manipulation, allegedly acting on the interests of foreign states and NGOs. The responsibilities of organizing and managing elections have now been transferred to the Ministry of Territorial Administration, which falls directly under executive control.
Public Reaction and International Concern
The dissolution of CENI has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, civil society groups, and international observers, many of whom fear the junta is entrenching itself in power under the guise of national security.
“This is not just a dismantling of an institution; it’s a dismantling of the very spirit of democratic transition,” said Issa Barry, a constitutional lawyer based in Ouagadougou.
The African Union and ECOWAS have yet to formally respond but are reportedly monitoring the situation closely. ECOWAS had previously suspended Burkina Faso from its decision-making bodies after the 2022 coup but hoped for a return to constitutional order by 2025.
The government insists the decision will “accelerate the path to national recovery”, but critics remain unconvinced, warning that Burkina Faso may face increased isolation from global democratic allies if the trend continues.
