Burkina Faso to set up new election body in July: minister

A new national independent electoral commission (CENI) is expected to be set up in Burkina Faso on July 15 this year, as the current election body's terms of office expire on August 1.

Burkina Faso State minister of administration and security Simon Compaore disclosed this during a meeting Monday with political parties on issues regarding the election body.

"The deadline to appoint new members is set on July 15 at the latest", he said, recalling that outgoing members of the CENI were appointed in 2011 for a once renewable five-year term office.

"They are at the end of their mandate and the chairman saw fit to inform the Prime minister so that provisions be made", Compaore explained.

"We urge the five representatives of the opposition, of the majority and of the civil society to choose their members so that we be able to prepare the decree to be adopted in the council of minister that should consider the appointment of the CENI composition, the chairman and the deputy chairman", he said.

The incumbent CENI successfully organized general and presidential elections, following president Blaise Compaore's resignation amid insurrection in October 2014 after 27 years in power. Enditem