Burkina Faso’s military rulers have disbanded the country’s electoral commission calling it a waste of money.
The interior ministry will handle elections in the future.
The coup leaders have initiated sweeping reforms, including the postponement of elections which would lead to a return to civilian rule in Burkina Faso since taking power in 2022
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.
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 Russia.
Rights 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 expression.
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 confirmed by BBC
Territorial Administration Minister Emile Zerbo as saying that the electoral commission was “subsidised” with around $870,000 (£650,000) a year.
Abolishing the commission would “reinforce our sovereign control on the electoral process and at the same time limit foreign influences”, he added.
Captain Ibrahim Traoré had been on forefront bringing the country to needful standards.
