Burkina: signing of a good conduct pact for peaceful elections

A Burkinabè electoral agent during the November 2015 presidential election in Ouagadougou (illustratrion photo).

ISSOUF SANOGO / AFP

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In Burkina Faso, the various actors involved in the next elections pledge not to add fuel to the fire, in an already fragile context.

Candidates, heads of media, social organizations, activists signed a pact of good conduct under the aegis of the Superior Council of Communication for a campaign and peaceful elections.

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With our correspondent in Ouagadougou,

Yaya Boudani

The final objective of this pact is to prevent political electoral discourse from jeopardizing social cohesion.

The signing took place this Monday, October 26 in the presence of the head of government and representatives of the technical and financial partners involved in the organization of the elections on November 22.

Thus, by signing this pact of good conduct, the various candidates for the presidential and legislative elections, media and civil society officials are committing to a campaign and peaceful elections.

“ 

The candidates undertake to treat and avoid any hateful, stigmatizing and dividing remarks.

They undertake to have recourse, if necessary, to legal conflict management bodies.

They are committed to educating their activists to use a calming and unifying language

 , ”said Mathias Tankoano, president of the Higher Council for Communication.

Clément Sawadogo, representing the candidate Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, assures us that the member parties of the majority alliance will do their utmost to respect this commitment: “ 

We are committed to carrying out a peaceful campaign, a campaign in courtesy, a campaign with mutual respect and mutual consideration

 ”.

Zéphirin Diabré, the leader of the opposition, believes that this pact of good behavior does not include all aspects related to the electoral campaign.

“ 

There are behaviors that we are currently seeing in the field that pose a problem for us.

When we see all that there is as electoral corruption operations, that does not resolve all the questions that can somewhat mar the transparency, and therefore appeased, of the elections.

We should have a much more in-depth reflection

 , ”he underlines.

A few days before the official opening of the electoral campaign, the president of the Superior Council of Communication assures us that his institution will ensure compliance with this pact of good conduct.

► To read also: Burkina Faso: President Kaboré takes stock of his five-year term 

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