Burkinabe opposition threatens to boycott constitution review

Burkina Faso opposition has threatened to boycott the country’s constitutional review after questioning the framework that will be used in drafting the new laws.

The opposition have questioned the urgency to draft a new constitution at a time when the country is facing difficult economic stability.

They further rejected a team of 92 legislators elected by the president to oversee constitutional reforms.

“We dispute the decree of the President of Burkina Faso putting in place the Constitutional Commission which violates the law in our country, “ said Victorien Tougouma, President of the African Movement of the peoples (MAP) and also one of the opposition spokespersons.

“If consensus is not required in the making of decisions of the Commission, the opposition will quit,” warned Mr Tougouma,

Burkina Faso’s former President, Blaise Compaore had tried to change the constitution in 2013 to extend his mandate but an insurgency in the country over ran his ambition leading to his exile in Ivory Coast.

The Burkinabe opposition are now demanding the adoption of the draft Constitution to be agreed by consensus to avoid any democratic backslide.