Burkina Faso Dissolves Electoral Commission, Citing Cost and Foreign Influence
OUAGADOUGOU – In a significant move, Burkina Faso’s parliament has voted to dissolve the country’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with lawmakers labeling the body a “waste of money.”
The decision, backed by the military-led government, will see the responsibility for organizing future elections transferred to the Ministry of Territorial Administration. This ministry is tasked with the organization and administration of the national territory.
The move was publicly supported by President Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who has previously accused the Electoral Commission of being a tool for peddling “foreign influence.” This characterization aligns with a broader pattern of actions from the Burkinabè government to distance the West African nation from its international partners.
The dissolution of the INEC marks the latest step in this ongoing shift. Since coming to power in a 2022 coup, the Traoré-led government has repeatedly framed its struggle against security challenges as a fight for national sovereignty, often criticizing former colonial powers and international institutions.
By placing election organization under a direct government ministry, the authorities are centralizing a key democratic process. The government has not yet announced a timeline for when this new structure will be implemented or how it will manage future electoral contests.
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