Burkina Faso’s Transitional Legislative Assembly has voted unanimously to dissolve the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), transferring its responsibilities to the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization.

The decision, effective immediately, is part of the military-led government’s broader institutional reforms aimed at reducing foreign influence and cutting costs, while extending the political transition period to 2029.

The bill, passed without debate in the junta-appointed legislature, targets CENI’s annual budget of 500 million CFA francs (approximately $830,000), which the government deemed unsustainable. Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s administration, in power since the 2022 coup, framed the move as a sovereignty-enhancing measure. “This ensures sovereignty in our democratic processes,” a ministry official stated, citing CENI’s historical dependence on foreign funding for electoral operations.

Established in 1995, CENI oversaw Burkina Faso’s last national elections in 2020, which were marred by security-related disruptions and a voter turnout of just 66%. Its 15 commissioners will now face reassignment or severance, as the ministry assumes control over voter registration, ballot logistics, and certification of results for the next scheduled elections in 2029.

While no formal opposition emerged within the assembly, exiled civil society groups and democracy advocates have raised concerns about the erosion of electoral impartiality under a military-led system. The move aligns with Traoré’s extended five-year transition plan, endorsed by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—following their collective expulsion from ECOWAS in 2024.

AES has prioritized joint counterterrorism operations amid escalating jihadist violence, with insurgents reportedly controlling 40% of Burkina Faso’s territory. The conflict has displaced over 2 million people and contributed to a 10% annual GDP contraction. Economists warn that the country’s increasing isolation could further strain humanitarian conditions, with 3.5 million citizens facing food insecurity.

International observers, including the European Union—which previously funded CENI audits—expressed regret over the dissolution but refrained from direct criticism, citing ongoing diplomatic engagement.