Burkina Faso's ruling junta will stay in power for another five years after national talks participants today proposed the term of the transition to democracy to be extended by 60 months, starting from July, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
The military took power in a coup in 2022 and promised to hold elections in July this year to restore civilian rule, but also said security concerns would take priority.
According to the new charter signed by military leader Ibrahim Traore, the transition period is set at 60 months, starting July 2.
"The elections that will mark the end of the transition can be organized before this deadline, if the security situation allows it,", the document also says.
The significant delay is likely to deepen fears of a retreat from democracy in West and Central Africa, where there have been eight coups in the past four years, according to Reuters.
The charter also allows Traore to run for president when elections are held.
The level of violence in West Africa's Sahel region, fueled by decades of fighting with Islamist groups linked to "Al Qaeda" and "Islamic State", worsened after the respective countries' militaries seized power in Burkina Faso and neighboring Mali and Niger.
According to the US-based crisis monitoring group ACLED, Burkina Faso saw a major escalation in deadly attacks in 2023, with more than 8,000 people reportedly killed.