Ouagadougou: The Transitional Legislative Assembly (ALT) of Burkina Faso voted on Monday to repeal all laws governing political parties, paving the way for a total overhaul of a system disconnected from Burkinabe realities. The text, adopted in plenary session, sweeps aside the charter of political parties, the laws on party financing, and the status of the opposition. This decision follows a bill introduced by the government, which denounces a proliferation of structures lacking any real local roots.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the government highlighted that Burkina Faso suffered from an overabundance of political formations-more than 200 before the suspension of the Constitution-lacking a clear ideology, contributing to a loss of trust among citizens towards institutions. Emile Zerbo, Minister of State, Minister of Territorial Administration and Mobility, explained to the deputies that the measure aims to overhaul the entire partisan system that prevailed until now.

The minister particularly emphasized the support of rural populations for this reform, noting that the people have witnessed the excesses and divisions generated by the functioning of the parties. One of the points of contention in this reform concerns the assets of political parties that have now effectively been dissolved. Mr. Zerbo assured that a decree adopted by the Council of Ministers would govern the "transfer of assets," referring the organizations back to their own legal statutes in the event of dissolution.

The General Affairs Commission (CAGIDH), which recommended the vote, believes that this repeal will strengthen "social cohesion and national unity" as the country seeks to invent a new, more endogenous model of governance.