Burkina Faso’s Rocky Road to Democratic Consolidation

In October 2014, the Burkinabe people were making history by toppling a ruling administration for the second time in the country’s political history. The popular uprising was seen by political commentors as a significant leap in the consolidation of democratic governance in the country. Taking the oath of office in context of pressing social demands and a need of real change, President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré was assigned the herculean task of undertaking bold socio-economic and political reforms. Five years after, the euphoria and optimism have given way to worry and despair. Burkina Faso is still in quest of its way towards political stability and economic development. A complicated security scenario coupled to social unrest and unaddressed structural governance issues are threating the country’s political foundations. It is against this background that the Burkinabe are expected at the polls to elect the next president and the 127 members of the parliament.

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