Politics of Burkina Faso

ThePolitics of Burkina Fasotakes place in a framework of asemi-presidentialrepublic,whereby thePrime Minister of Burkina Fasois thehead of government,and of amulti-party system.ThePresident of Burkina Fasois thehead of state.Executive poweris exercised by both the President and the Government.Legislative poweris vested in both thegovernmentand parliament. The party system was dominated by theCongress for Democracy and Progress(CDP) until 2014. Burkina Faso's CDP fell victim to a series of demonstrations and riots, to alter the constitution and extend the former president's term in office - referred to as the2014 Burkinabé uprising.The military then declared itself to be in power and the state shifted to an electoral autocracy. Burkina Faso lacks the foundation that would support a democracy, with its current transition to a military regime, but not all hope is lost. After an internal coup oustedPaul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba,the previous military head of state, a new transitional charter was adopted, naming CaptainIbrahim Traoréas president. Mr. Damiba's progressional failures on the state's security front “swung a majority of domestic opinion in favour of the MPSR”. Mr. Traorépledgeda major reinforcement of armed forces to strengthen frontline units and recruited over 3,000 more troops. As the violence becomes so entrenched, it is nonetheless expected that the security situation will remain dire in the medium term. “However, we expect thatelections will still be held in 2024as part of the army's plan to stabilise the security situation by boosting counter-terrorism operations.”

Important questions facing the state were the length of the MPSR rule, who would be president, and which institutions would run the country. Immediately after Mr. Damiba's ouster, the junta declared that it accepted a previous agreement to hold elections by July 2024, ending debate about the timeline. The MPSR initially suggested that thepresidentmight be "civilian or military", but widespread demonstrations expressed strong preferences for Mr.Traoré.This tilted the balance among contending military factions in his favor. Within the varieties of authoritarian regimes and transitions, we see how the rivalries between the officer corps and coups can be shaped by citizen preferences and with lots of time dedicated to internal consensus, democracy is one of the future.

Political history

PresidentBlaise Compaoréruled Burkina Faso from a coup d'état in 1987 to his resignation in 2014.

In 1990, thePopular Frontheld its first National Congress, which formed a committee to draft a national constitution. The constitution was approved by referendum in 1991. In 1992,Blaise Compaoréwas elected president, running unopposed after the opposition boycotted the election because of Compaoré's refusal to accede to demands of the opposition such as a Sovereign National Conference to set modalities. The opposition did participate in the following year's legislative elections, in which theODP/MTwon a majority of the seats contested for.

The government of the Fourth Republic includes a strong presidency, a prime minister, a Council of Ministers presided over by the president, a National Assembly, and the judiciary. The legislature and judiciary are independent but remain susceptible to outside influence.

In 1995, Burkina held its first multiparty municipal elections since it gained independence. The president's ODP/MT won over 1,100 of some 1,700 councilor seats being contested.

In February 1996, the ruling ODP/MT merged with several small opposition parties to form theCongress for Democracy and Progress(CDP). This effectively co-opted much of what little viable opposition to Compaoré existed. The remaining opposition parties regrouped in preparation for 1997 legislative elections and the 1998 presidential election. The 1997 legislative elections, which international observers pronounced to be substantially free, fair, and transparent, resulted in a large CDP majority—101 to 111 seats.

In January 2022 acoup d'étattook place, the military announced on television that Kaboré had been deposed from his position as President.After the announcement, the military declared that the parliament, government and constitution had been dissolved.On 31 January, the military junta restored the constitution and appointedPaul-Henri Sandaogo Damibaas interim president.A few months later, On 30 September 2022, Damiba was himself ousted byIbrahim Traoré,his military colleague. President Damiba resigned and left the country.On 6 October 2022, Captain Ibrahim Traore was officially appointed as president of Burkina Faso.

Government

Executive branch

Main office-holders

Office	Name	Party	Since
President	Ibrahim Traoré	Military	30 September 2022
Prime Minister	Apollinaire Joachim Kyélem de Tambèla	None	21 October 2022

The president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term and may serve up to two terms. The prime minister is appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature. The constitution of 2 June 1991, established a semi-presidential government with a parliament (French:Assemblée) which can be dissolved by the President of the Republic, who is elected for a term of 5 years.

The year 2000 saw a constitutional amendment reducing the presidential term from seven to five years, which was enforced during the 2005 elections. Another change according to the amendment would have prevented sitting presidentBlaise Compaoréfrom being re-elected. However, notwithstanding a challenge by other presidential candidates, in October 2005, the constitutional council ruled that because Compaoré was already a sitting president in 2000, the amendment would not apply to him until the end of his second term in office, thereby clearing the way for his candidacy inthe 2005 election.On 13 November Compaoré was reelected in a landslide due to a divided political opposition.

In 2010, Compaoré was once again re-elected, and the term limit requirement was held to not apply to him. A proposed constitutional amendment in 2014 would have permitted him to run again, but public resistance led to the2014 Burkinabé uprising,and Compaoré resigned on 31 October 2014. A transitional government headed by PresidentMichel Kafandoand Prime MinisterIsaac Zidatook power for a one-year mandate. Elections were to have been held in October 2015, but members of theRegiment of Presidential Securitylauncheda coupon 16 September 2015, detaining President Kafando and Prime Minister Zida. RSP commanderGilbert Diendérénamed himself the head of the newmilitary junta,but popular resistance, backed by army and gendarmerie forces not aligned with the RSP, forced his resignation and the restoration of the transitional government a week later.

Council of Ministers

The BurkinabeCouncil of Ministersnominated on 5 March 2022 included prime ministerAlbert Ouédraogoand 25 ministers.

Legislative branch

According to the constitution, the Parliament votes on the law, consents to taxation, and controls the actions of the government under provisions of the constitution. The Parliament, which is made up of the National Assembly and Senate, meets each year in two ordinary sessions, each of which may not exceed ninety days. The first session opens on the first Wednesday of March and the second the last Wednesday of September. If either of these days lands on a holiday, the session opens the next first working day. Each chamber of Parliament meets in extraordinary session on request of the President, demand of the Prime Minister, or of an absolute majority of half of the Deputies or Senators on a specific agenda and closes at the completion of said agenda.

TheNational Assembly(Assemblée Nationale) has 111 members, named Deputies, and are elected for a five-year term byproportional representation.

TheSenate,as described in the Constitution of Burkina Faso, would consist of representatives from local government divisions, customary and religious authorities, workers, employers, Burkinabes abroad and people appointed by the President of Burkina Faso and serve a term of six years. The constitution requires that anyone elected or appointed must be 45 years old by the day of the ballot.

In May 2013, then-President Compaoré announced the establishment of a new Senate with 89 members, 29 of which would be selected by the president themselves, and the rest appointed by local officials.With Senate elections being held in July 2013, government opposition groups warned against a legislative body with a majority of handpicked sympathizers by the president. Compaoré was successful in appointing 1/3rd of the Senate, prompting protesters rallying in the streets ofBobo-Dioulassoand the capitalOuagadougouto protest the establishment of the Senate, which has since been postponed.

The Presidents of both the Senate and National Assembly are elected for the duration of the legislator by an absolute majority of half the chamber in the first round of voting, or a simple majority in the second round. Their functions can be terminated during the course of a legislature at the demand of two-fifths and a vote of the absolute majority of the members of the Assembly. In the case of vacancy of the presidency of either chamber of Parliament by death, resignation, or other reason, said chamber elects a new president by the same method. Each chamber has financial autonomy, with the President of the said chamber managing the credits allocated to them for the functioning of the chamber, but with a vote of the absolute majority, the chamber can dismiss the President for incompetence in managing finances.

Unless discoveredin flagrante delicto,any member of Parliament can only be prosecuted or arrested in a penal or criminal matter with the authorization of at least one-third members of the chamber which they reside.

Political parties and elections

For other political parties, seeList of political parties in Burkina Faso.An overview on elections and election results is included inElections in Burkina Faso.

• 2020 Burkinabé general election

Political pressure groups

Burkinabé General Confederation of Labor (CGTB); Burkinabé Movement for Human Rights (HBDHP); Group of 14 February; National Confederation of Burkinabé Workers (CNTB); National Organization of Free Unions (ONSL); watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities

Administrative divisions

Burkina Faso is divided into 13 regions and 45 provinces:

Regions:

• Boucle du Mouhoun,Cascades,Centre,Centre-Est,Centre-Nord,Centre-Ouest,Centre-Sud,Est,Hauts-Bassins,Nord,Plateau-Central,Sahel,Sud-Ouest

Provinces:

• Balé,Bam,Banwa,Bazega,Bougouriba,Boulgou,Boulkiemde,Comoé,Ganzourgou,Gnagna,Gourma,Houet,Ioba,Kadiogo,Kenedougou,Komondjari,Kompienga,Kossi,Koulpelogo,Kouritenga,Kourweogo,Leraba,Loroum,Mouhoun,Namentenga,Nahouri,Nayala,Noumbiel,Oubritenga,Oudalan,Passore,Poni,Sanguie,Sanmatenga,Séno,Sissili,Soum,Sourou,Tapoa,Tuy,Yagha,Yatenga,Ziro,Zondoma,Zoundweogo

International organization participation

ACCT,ACP,AfDB,AU,ECA,ECOWAS,Entente,FAO,G-77,IAEA,IBRD,ICAO,ICC,ITUC,ICRM,IDA,IDB,IFAD,IFC,IFRCS,ILO,IMF,Intelsat,Interpol,IOC,ITU,NAM,OAU,OIC,OPCW,PCA,UN,UNCTAD,UNESCO,UNIDO,UPU,WADB,WADB (regional),WAEMU,WCO,WFTU,WHO,WIPO,WMO,WTOO,WTrO.

International relationships

The ambassador of Burkina Faso to Canada isJuliette Bonkoungou.

The ambassador of Burkina Faso to Mexico is Jonathan Hodgson.

The former ambassador of Burkina Faso to the United States wasTertius Zongo,he left his post when appointed Prime Minister in July 2007; the US Ambassador to Burkina Faso isAndrew Robert Young.

See also

• 2019 Burkina Faso government resignation