Ouagadougou – Burkina Faso’s interim government confirmed Wednesday that presidential and parliamentary elections initially set for October, but delayed by a failed coup, would go ahead on November 29.
The government confirmed the date agreed on Tuesday with the main political factions for the elections, which were scheduled for October 11 but then put back after a short-lived putsch last month.
The polls are seen as a key step on the west African country’s road to democracy, a year after the ouster of its long-time leader Blaise Compaore in a popular uprising.
Voters will be presented with two ballots – one for choosing members of parliament, the other for choosing among 14 candidates competing in the first round of the presidential election.
Presidential guard members loyal to Compaore announced a coup on September 17, bringing the country to the brink of chaos for six days before the putsch collapsed with its leaders admitting they lacked popular support.
One of their demands was that a ban on Compaore loyalists running for office be lifted.
The presidential guard has since been disarmed and formally disbanded.
Compaore was ousted by a campaign of street protests last year after attempting to extend his 27 years in power.
A number of his close aides and supporters have been arrested over the attempted coup, which left 14 dead and scores injured.
