Democracy in Burkina Faso: Assessment mission Report Dialogue for Democratic Development

For nearly 10 years, Burkina Faso has been building a strong republican institutional framework, the pillars of which are anchored in justice, democracy, secularism, order and rights. Its journey toward democratic development has not, however, been without its share of tensions. Democracy is a long-term process. Choosing the republican form of government, the Res Publica, means building the state according to rational choices, debating economic and social contradictions without prejudice, and adopting laws that are equal for all. It also means insisting that decisions in the public domain are based solely on the will of the people, as expressed by citizens who are free as a result of emancipation and awareness of critical knowledge. Undoubtedly, Burkina Faso has made significant progress towards democratic consolidation. However, we must remain vigilant because there is still much to be done before a truly democratic form of governance is in place. Conscious of this fact, International IDEA has offered its support to all the players, members of both political and civil society, in order to strengthen the democratic structure of this ancestral Burkinabes land where a strong and rigorous heart beats. It must be emphasized that today, at the end of the twentieth century, in Burkina Faso the majority in power and the opposition are as important as bricks and mortar in the construction of the republican temple, the sole guarantor of a peaceful future. The dialogue for Democratic Development in Burkina Faso, facilitated by International IDEA, has borne the stamp of sincerity, goodwill and responsibility. The competence and commitment of all contributors, Burkinabes and international experts alike, is reflected in this report which is a landmark in a lengthy process. The Burkinabes have started a critical debate without abandoning their convictions, albeit highly contrasted and diverse. For their part, international experts were able to contribute to the debate by bringing the experiences of other countries, both within Africa and elsewhere, without losing sight of the Burkinabes reality. The overall process was directed by Roel von Meijenfeldt, Director of Programmes at International IDEA