Country profile
Burkina Faso
Africa · Sub-Saharan Africa
BF · BFA
- Capital
- Ouagadougou
- Population
- 24,070,553
- Area
- 272,967 km²
- Democracy index
- 14
- Regime type
- Closed Autocracy
Events
Ballots from Burkina Faso
The latest elections, referendums, and opinion polls from Burkina Faso. Community totals are not official results.
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Classification
Democracy profile
The score and regime label are assigned by Porto Voto using our in-house democracy index and classification framework, not ratings from governments or external agencies.
Democracy index
14/100
Regime type
Closed Autocracy
Burkina Faso remains a Closed Autocracy under the military leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in a 2022 coup. As of May 2026, the promised transition to civilian rule has been effectively indefinitely delayed, with the junta citing the deteriorating security situation caused by persistent jihadist insurgencies as the primary justification for maintaining absolute control. The political environment is characterized by a systemic crackdown on dissent, including the forced conscription of activists, journalists, and opposition figures into the military to serve on the front lines. Independent media outlets have been shuttered or severely restricted, and a pervasive climate of fear has largely silenced civil society. While the government claims to be defending national sovereignty, large portions of the country remain outside of central control, leading to mass displacement and humanitarian crises. Political parties are largely sidelined, and there are no credible mechanisms for public accountability or electoral competition. The recent reports of secret detentions and the mistreatment of investigative journalists further underscore the complete erosion of the rule of law and the absence of basic civil liberties under the current military administration.
Last evaluation:
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Country background
A concise introduction to Burkina Faso, together with notes on how power and law are organized, to put local ballots in context.
Many of Burkina Faso’s ethnic groups arrived in the region between the 12th and 15th centuries. The Gurma and Mossi peoples established several of the largest kingdoms in the area and used horse-mounted warriors in military campaigns. Of the various Mossi kingdoms, the most powerful were Ouagadougou and Yatenga.
In the late 19th century, European states competed for control of the region. France eventually conquered the area and established it as a French protectorate. The country achieved independence from France in 1960 and changed its name to Burkina Faso in 1984.
Repeated military coups were common in the country’s first few decades. In 1987 Blaise COMPAORE deposed the president, established a government, and ruled for 27 years. In 2014, COMPAORE resigned after protests against his repeated efforts to amend the constitution's two-term presidential limit.
An interim administration led a year-long transition, organizing presidential and legislative elections. In 2015, Roch Marc Christian KABORE was elected president, and he was reelected in 2020. In 2022, the military conducted two takeovers: In January, army colonel Paul Henri DAMIBA overthrew KABORE in a coup d'etat, and then in September, army captain Ibrahim TRAORE deposed DAMIBA and declared himself transition president.
The transition government planned to hold elections by July 2024, but they may be delayed due to security concerns. Terrorist groups -- including groups affiliated with Al-Qa’ida and the Islamic State -- began attacks in the country in 2016 and conducted attacks in the capital in 2016, 2017, and 2018. By early 2023, insecurity in Burkina Faso had displaced more than 2 million people and led to significant jumps in humanitarian needs and food insecurity.
In addition to terrorism, the country faces a myriad of problems including high population growth, recurring drought, pervasive and perennial food insecurity, and limited natural resources. It is one of the world’s poorest countries.