Burkina Faso’s military government has officially scrapped the country’s electoral commission, describing it as a financial burden and a tool of foreign influence.
The announcement, made on state-owned Television, confirms that the Ministry of Interior will now take full control of electoral processes.
The commission’s dissolution is the latest move by the ruling junta, which seized power in September 2022, to strenghten its grip on governance.
Territorial Administration Minister, Emile Zerbo defended the decision, stating that the electoral body received an annual subsidy of about $870,000. He said scrapping it would help the country assert full sovereignty over its elections and reduce foreign interference.
However, rights groups have raised concerns about alleged human rights violations, including the targeting of civilians and suppression of dissent. Meanwhile, jihadist attacks have continued to escalate. In the first half of 2025, the al-Qaeda-linked group JNIM claimed responsibility for over 280 attacks—twice the number recorded in the same period last year.