Burkina Faso to get new constitution

Burkina Faso’s president, Roch Marc Christian Kabore has set up a commission to draft a new constitution for the country.

The draft expected to be ready in 60 days, will usher the country into its fifth republic by finally closing the chapter on the country’s former long serving leader, Blaise Compaore.

The change of republic was part of a transition charter signed by political parties, members of civil society organizations and the security forces after the fall of president Blaise Compaore in October 2014.

Compaore, who came into power in a 1987 coup, led the country for 27 years.

Having won his first civilian election in 1991, he was re-elected four more times. His attempt to amend the constitution for a fifth consecutive 5-year term in office sparked protests which eventually led to his ouster in 2014.

Burkina Faso’s existing constitution was adopted on June 11, 1991 after Blaise Compaore won his first democratic election.

In November last year, members of the National Transition Council (NTC), an interim assembly set up after the fall of Mr. Compaoré, adopted a constitutional amendment which put a cap on the presidential term.

The amendments to the old constitutional provision was that the president of Burkina Faso would be elected for a 5-year term which is subject to renewal just once.

President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré who was elected president in November last year, promised a new constitution to guide the country’s transition to the fifth republic.