Burkina Faso: Military rule extended

According to a report by BBC News on 27 May 2024, Burkina Faso's military government announced that it will extend its rule for another five years. When Captain Ibrahim Traoré seized power in September 2022, he pledged to restore the civilian government by 1 July 2024.

World Watch Research analyst Yonas Dembele comments: “Burkina Faso has been plagued by violent Islamic militancy for almost a decade, resulting in thousands of deaths. Captain Traoré came to power almost two years ago, raising hopes for improved security. He had ousted Colonel Damiba, citing the latter's inability to address the insurgency. Captain Traoré promised to improve the security situation within ‘two to three months’, but there has been no tangible improvement and the country continues to be targeted by deadly jihadist attacks. The extremist insurgency in the north of the country poses a constant threat to thousands of civilians, particularly Christians.”

Yonas Dembele continues: “The decision to extend military rule for five years is unlikely to improve the country's deteriorating security situation and may even exacerbate the jihadist insurgency, putting the civilian population, especially Christians, at risk. The human rights abuses perpetrated by the military government could further alienate the population and provide opportunities for jihadist groups to expand their influence. Unless the military rulers adopt a strategy that respects human rights and addresses the grievances fuelling the insurgency, the security situation is likely to worsen during the extension. If the security situation deteriorates further, there is a high risk of Burkina Faso descending into civil war and becoming a haven for radical Islamic groups, especially given the country’s geographic location, which makes it a potential gateway for militants to spread into coastal West Africa.”