Burkina Faso Dissolves National Electoral Commission

July 18, 2025

(3 Minutes Read)

According to Minister of State Emile Zerbo, election management would once again be entrusted to the Ministry of Territorial Administration, as it was before 1998.

The Burkinabe government recently adopted a bill at the Council of Ministers to dissolve the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), ostensibly to overhaul and reduce government expenditure, as well as for organizational reform.

According to Minister of State Emile Zerbo, election management would once again be entrusted to the Ministry of Territorial Administration, as it was before 1998.

Deemed “budget-consuming” and inconsistent with the Transition Charter, the CENI, created through a political compromise in 1998, could therefore be eliminated if the Transitional Legislative Assembly validates the project. The Transition in Burkina Faso has been extended by national meetings until 2029 to rebuild and regain national sovereignty.

According to the 2001 law on the CENI, this institution is composed of 15 commissioners, including representatives from political parties and civil society.