Victory for President Kaboré in Burkina Faso

The Socialist International welcomes the news that President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, leader of the SI member party the People’s Movement for Progress, MPP, who was first elected President of Burkina Faso in 2015, has received well above the votes needed to win a second term in the first round of general elections held last Sunday.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, CENI, has confirmed that out of thirteen candidates running for president in this election, President Kaboré received 57.87 percent of the vote. His closest opponents received just 15.48 and 12.46 percent.

Opposition parties have seven days to file complaints, and courts are required to issue their findings two weeks later. However, Independent National Electoral Commission, CENI, the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, and the African Union, AU, have said the elections were conducted in a satisfactory manner. Reports credit the election as being one of the country’s most open in years.

President Kaboré's victory by such a margin in the first round demonstrates the result of his policies to continue on a path of stability, democracy and rights for all. It further strongly underlines the commitment and service he has shown to his country in his first term, as well as his efforts to bring peace, security and wellbeing to the people. Underscoring this, President Kaboré has said "I will deploy all my efforts so that through continuous consultation, through dialogue... we can work together for peace and development."

This is an important moment for Burkina Faso, and for President Kaboré and our member party the MPP who stand for the common values and principles of our movement, values that have been transforming the face of Burkina Faso and opening new and welcome opportunities for the country.