Gambiaj.com – (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso) – The government of Burkina Faso has announced the formal dissolution of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Céni), a move it says is aimed at shielding the electoral process from political and foreign influence while reducing public spending.
The decision was announced following a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, July 16, during which a draft bill proposing the dissolution was approved. The bill will now be submitted to the Transitional National Assembly for legislative consideration.
According to Minister of Territorial Administration Émile Zerbo, the responsibility for organizing future elections will now fall under his ministry.
He explained that this shift is part of the government’s broader agenda for “state refoundation” and institutional reform, which has been a key policy direction under the current transitional authorities.
Zerbo cited financial rationalization as another reason for the reform, noting that maintaining the Céni costs the state approximately 500 million CFA francs (around €760,000) annually. “This is a heavy burden for the state, especially at a time when there are no plans to hold elections in the near term,” he said.
The minister argued that returning electoral oversight to the government would help avoid “strong political influences” and ensure “sovereign control” over the process.
The move has sparked debate. Former Minister of Culture Abdoul Karim Sango, writing on social media platform X, said it was unreasonable to continue spending such large sums on an electoral body when the government has not scheduled any elections.
He pointed out that political party activities have been banned since 2022, with no timeline provided for a return to democratic rule.
Observers note that the dissolution of the Céni—once a symbol of electoral independence—raises questions about the future of democratic governance in Burkina Faso, especially given the ongoing suspension of political parties and the indefinite postponement of elections.
The country’s transitional government, which took power following a series of military coups, maintains that its focus is on restoring national security and rebuilding state institutions before returning to civilian rule.
