In a recent development, Burkina Faso's military government, led by Capt Ibrahim Traoré, has announced that it will extend its rule for another five years [f13d08c1]. The decision was made during a national consultation meeting in the capital city, Ouagadougou. Capt Traoré, who seized power in a coup in September 2022, will also be able to contest the next presidential election [f13d08c1]. The country has been governed by the military since January 2022, when Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba took power. The military rule has been extended due to the ongoing militant Islamist violence in the country [f13d08c1]. Burkina Faso has been plagued by jihadist rebels affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group since 2015, resulting in thousands of deaths and millions of displacements [f13d08c1].
The decision to extend military rule has been met with criticism from international and human rights groups due to the serious human rights violations committed by Burkina Faso in its fight against Islamists [f13d08c1]. The European Union and the United Nations have accused the country of indiscriminate killings and forced disappearances of civilians [f13d08c1].
The situation in Burkina Faso highlights the urgent need for regional and international efforts to combat terrorism, address political challenges, and improve human rights in the country [87dc3895] [f13d08c1].
