Kaboré Re-Elected President of Burkina Faso Amid Security and Electoral Challenges

Burkina Faso’s President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré has been re-elected, securing 57.87 percent of the vote in the November 22 presidential election, according to full preliminary results announced by the national electoral commission on Thursday. His victory allows him to avoid a runoff and continue as head of state for a second term.

Reacting to the results, Kaboré thanked citizens for their trust and pledged on X (formerly Twitter) to be “a president for all Burkinabés,” promising to “work tirelessly for peace and the development of our country.”

The outcome defied some analysts’ expectations of a tighter race. Opposition figures, including Zéphirin Diabré and Eddie Komboigo, who obtained 12.46 percent and 15.48 percent respectively, had accused Kaboré of failing to contain the growing jihadist and intercommunal violence that has displaced around one million people and killed more than 2,000 in the past year alone.

Sunday’s presidential and parliamentary elections took place against a backdrop of persistent insecurity. Armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have intensified attacks, particularly in the country’s northern and eastern regions. Once viewed as a stable democracy in West Africa, Burkina Faso now finds itself at the heart of the wider Sahel conflict, where French and European forces are assisting local armies through Operation Barkhane and Operation Takuba.

Although the electoral process was largely peaceful, some irregularities were reported. In parts of the east, about 30 people allegedly voted using fake ballots due to shortages of official voting papers. Nevertheless, election observers from both local and international missions deemed the polls generally credible.

Opposition candidates have seven days to contest the results. The African Union (AU) and ECOWAS have urged all parties to pursue legal channels and maintain calm. “The Burkinabé people don’t need violence,” said Makuza Bernard, head of the AU observer mission.

Security threats also hindered participation in several regions. Nearly 3,000 polling stations remained closed, preventing up to 350,000 citizens—many from already marginalized communities—from voting. Civil society leaders warn that addressing these inequalities and restoring state presence in insecure areas must be top priorities for Kaboré’s new term.

“He must fulfill the promises left unmet during his first mandate to reduce social tensions, especially in rural areas,” said Chrysogone Zougmore, president of the Burkinabé Movement for Human Rights.

Local leaders, such as Ousmane Amirou Dicko, the Emir of Liptako, echoed these sentiments, stressing that improving security and creating jobs for youth are essential to deterring extremism.

As supporters of the ruling party celebrated the victory, many in the opposition said they would respect the results but vowed to hold the government accountable. “We must stay vigilant and ensure everyone takes part in managing the country,” said Paul Lengane, a resident of Ouagadougou.