Welcome to Africanews

Please select your experience

Watch Live

News

news

Burkina Faso awaits local election results

Burkina Faso awaits local election results

Burkina Faso

More than 80 political parties vying for 20,000 municipal councilor positions in Burkina Faso are waiting for the results with bated breath.

For the first local elections after the overthrow of former leader Compaore, voter turnout was significantly low even after the newly-appointed president Roch Marc Christian Kabore appealed to citizens to come out in large numbers to vote.

#Postcard from #Burkinafaso ~ élections municipales 2016 ~ #happeningnow #instafrica #onassignment #election #willpic.twitter.com/PROBVhu00X

— Mankool Ouagadougou (@Mankool_Ouagado) May 22, 2016

Vandalism resulted in the postponement of the election in some districts.

Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission, Barthelemy Kere said he had reports that at Dapelogo “there were some people who prohibited the deployment of election materials. It’s a shame. They are certainly supporters and opposition party activists. That’s why I say, the responsibility lies primarily with the political parties. It is up to them to tell such people to stop what they are doing for the sake of democracy”.

Citizens who showed up for the votes said they hoped their choice would move the country to greater heights in the next five years.

“I suggest that each person elected really works in righteousness, peace and joy, also in solidarity so that the country can move forward because if we work in disorder and anarchy, it really shows that the country will always be behind. We cannot move forward,” said one voter.

Following the outcome of the councilor votes, mayors will be appointed in 368 towns and will be in office for the next five years.

Results are expected before the end of the week.

AFP

View more