Burkina Faso to Dissolve Independent Electoral Commission, Deemed “Budget-Eating”

This is the latest anti-democratic measure in Burkina Faso: Ibrahim Traoré's government adopted a bill on July 16th allowing the dissolution of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI). This institution, created in 1998 and established in 2001, is composed of fifteen commissioners from political parties and civil society, reports Deutsche Welle . The official reason given by the government is the rationalization of government responsibilities.

Following the Council of Ministers on July 16, notes the Burkinabe website Le Faso.net , Émile Zerbo, the Minister responsible for Territorial Administration, defended this suppression:

“Subsidized with nearly half a billion CFA francs [762,200 euros] Every year, this structure is now proving to be totally inconsistent with the provisions of the transition charter, in addition to being budget-consuming.”

It is now his ministry that will organize the elections. The sovereignist argument is also being put forward. According to Burkinabe authorities, the dissolution of this independent entity would allow them to control the electoral process and, therefore, limit external influence.

But for observers, this decision is fully anchored in a context of destructuring of democracy.