Hundreds of voters lined up after morning prayers to vote Sunday in Burkina Faso’s first presidential and legislative elections since a popular uprising toppled the West Africa nation’s longtime leader a year ago. But the coup, which lasted only a week, was the country’s sixth since it gained independence from France in 1960, putting Burkina Faso’s aspirations to succeed at democracy on a shaky footing.
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Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Adow reporting from the capital, Ouagadougou, said there were long queues in most polling stations.
OUAGADOUGOU – Voters in Burkina Faso cast ballots on Sunday for a new president and parliament, hoping to turn the page on a year of turmoil during which the country’s people ousted a veteran ruler and repelled a military coup. A transitional authorities was put in place, still it was shortly at odds with Compaore’s elite presidential guard.
Compaore ruled for 27 years until protests at his attempt to change the constitution to maintain his tenure drove him from power.
Its leaders were thrown behind bars and the presidential and general elections were re-scheduled for November 29.
Kabore, who left Compaore’s party out of opposition to extending his rule, was regarded as the forerunner against Diabre. For the first time, I’ll be able to really choose the candidate I want, she said.
There are 14 presidential candidates, but Reuters quoted analysts saying only two stand a real chance of being elected. Roch Marc Kabore was prime minister and president of the National Assembly under Compaore. Diabre, an economist, opted for an global career but also served at home as minister of economy and finance.
In this photo taken on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015, a child sits on a motorbike with a election poster on it in Ziniare, Burkina Faso.
If none of the candidates receives 50% of the vote, a second round will be held about eight days after the results, which are expected on December 5.
At one point, he joined the United Nations Development Programme with support from Mr Compaore.
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“We must do everything to show that civilians can ensure the correct government of the country and restore it to democratic normality”, Mr Kabore said as he cast his ballot.
