Burkina Faso holds 1st vote since popular uprising

Burkina Faso’s security minister says soldiers have disrupted a “large-scale attack” in the west of the country, arresting 13 suspects and seizing weapons and bomb-making materials. A transitional government was put in place, though it was soon at odds with Compaore’s elite presidential guard.

Some 5.5 million people were registered to vote at more than 17,800 polling stations across the country.

Thousands of people cast their ballots Sunday in Burkina Faso’s first presidential and legislative elections since a popular uprising toppled the nation’s longtime leader past year. For the first time, I’ll be able to really choose the candidate I want, she said.

Former president Blaise Compaore was forced to flee overseas following mass street protests last October against his bid to change the constitution to extend his 27-year rule. “The distractions of the election period could provide a greater opportunity for militants to enter Burkina Faso, most likely from Mali, and carry out attacks”, said Simon Jennings, an analyst at London-based Assaye Risk.

Fourteen candidates are standing for the presidency and reports suggest that Roch Marc Christian Kabore and Zephirin Diabre are the front-runners.

Kabore’s Movement of People for Progress (MPP) is largely made up of disaffected allies of Compaore, who had left the party months before he resigned.

The presidential candidates approved by the Constitutional Council include two women, four independent candidates and 10 candidates sponsored by political parties.

“We have a real chance for democracy here”, said Tahirou Barry, one of 14 presidential candidates.

Economist Mr Diabre has served as minister of economy and finance before he fell out with Mr Campaore in 2010.

The provisional results of the presidential election could be published on Monday evening at the latest, while those of the legislative elections are expected on Tuesday, December 1, according to CENI. He at one point joined the United Nations Development Programme with support from Compaore.

“We must do everything to show that civilians can ensure the correct government of the country and restore it to democratic normality”, Mr Kabore said as he cast his ballot.