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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : Tuesday, October 28, 2014
CONTACT : Ian Koski at 202-224-5042

Senator Coons urges president of Burkina Faso to respect constitutional term limit
President Compaoré and the National Assembly are considering amending the constitution to allow another term
WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, issued the following statement following demonstrations by tens of thousands of Burkinabé Tuesday against attempts by the president of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaoré, to amend the constitution to allow for a third term in office.

“Democratic constitutional processes are vital to ensuring free and fair societies,” Senator Coons said. “President Compaoré and Burkina Faso’s National Assembly should withdraw their plans to amend Article 37 of the country’s constitution, which currently limits elected Presidents to two terms. President Compaoré stood for reelection in 2010 knowing he was eligible to serve for only one more five-year term. He should adhere to the existing constitutional limitation and agree to hand over power following next year’s planned election.

“The African Union Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance explicitly rejects constitutional changes in order to maintain power for the benefit of the incumbent as ‘illegal’, and an amendment to Article 37 is a clear violation of this principle,” Senator Coons continued. “The Burkinabé marching in the streets of Ouagadougou on Tuesday want their leaders to follow the rules. It is important that the government of Burkina Faso enforces a fair and credible democratic process and respects the term limits set forth in its constitution. The United States supports countries that have enshrined democratic principles, and which abide by transparency, accountability, and participation of the electorate in government institutions. It is critical that Burkina Faso’s leaders make the right choice and end this effort.”