2015 Burkinabè general election

none Burkina Faso 29 November 2015 presidential yes Presidential election 2010 Burkinabé presidential election 2010 2020 Burkinabé general election 2020 60.00% Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.jpg Roch Marc Christian Kaboré MPP 1,668,169 53.49% Zéphirin Diabré 2017 cropped.jpg Zéphirin Diabré UPC 924,811 29.65% Presidential vote share by province Acting President Michel Kafando Roch Marc Christian Kaboré MPP Elected President General elections were held in Burkina Faso on 29 November 2015. They were the first national elections in the country since the 2014 Burkinabé uprising and the departure of President Blaise Compaoré, who had ruled Burkina Faso for 27 years. Compaoré's party, the Congress for Democracy and Progress, was banned from presenting a presidential candidate in the presidential elections but was still able to participate in the parliamentary election. The presidential election was won by Roch Marc Christian Kaboré of the People's Movement for Progress, who received 53% of the vote in the first round, avoiding the need for a second round. Kaboré took office on 29 December, becoming only the second civilian president since the country gained independence from France in 1960 and the first civilian to hold the post in 49 years. Background 2014 uprising 2014 Burkinabé uprising Following an amendment in 2000, the constitution limits presidents to two terms of five years. However, the restrictions were not applied retrospectively, allowing President Blaise Compaoré, who had been in office since 1987, to run for a further two terms; accordingly, he was re-elected in 2005 and 2010."Burkina Faso parliament set ablaze", BBC News, 30 October 2014. On 30 October 2014 the National Assembly was scheduled to vote on a constitutional amendment that would scrap term limits. However, the vote sparked protests, with the National Assembly building, Ouagadougou City Hall and the Congress for Democracy and Progress headquarters set on fire. As a result of the protests, the vote was suspended. Protests were also reported in other cities, including the second largest city Bobo Dioulasso. Compaoré subsequently announced that he would withdraw the constitutional amendment."Burkina Faso president defies calls to step down", BBC News, 31 October 2014. On 31 October, Compaoré resigned and suggested an election should be held within 90 days."Burkina Faso unrest: President Blaise Compaore resigns", BBC News, 31 October 2014. Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Honoré Traoré first assumed the role of acting head of state. However, many protesters criticised the new transition of power because of Traoré's ties to Compaoré. Some protesters have called for the election of Kouamé Lougué. After a brief power struggle, the armed forces asserted that Yacouba Isaac Zida had their unanimous backing to be the interim head of state, although some protests continued against having a military-led interim administration. Presidential candidates The transitional charter barred any ministers in the transitional government from running for the presidency."Burkina Faso to hold presidential vote in October – interim government", Reuters, 22 January 2015. The following politicians declared their intent to stand as presidential candidates, although some were barred from running: Bénéwendé Stanislas Sankara – party leader for Union for Rebirth / Sankarist Movement and endorsed by nine other Sankarist parties."Benewende Sankara endorsed to contest for Burkina Faso presidency", Xinhua, 19 May 2015. Roch Marc Christian Kaboré – party leader of the People's Movement for Progress,"Burkina: R.M. Christian Kaboré investi candidat pour la présidentielle", Radio France Internationale, 6 July 2015 fr. Prime Minister from 1994 to 1996, and President of the National Assembly from 2002 to 2012. Eddie Komboïgo, party leader of the Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP).Benjamin Roger, "Burkina : Eddie Komboïgo sera le candidat du CDP à la présidentielle", Jeune Afrique, 10 July 2015 fr."Burkina: le CDP investit Eddie Komboïgo pour la présidentielle", Radio France Internationale, 11 July 2015 fr. Djibril Bassolé,"Djibrill Bassolé : "Oui, je vais annoncer ma candidature à la présidentielle"", Jeune Afrique, 9 April 2015 fr. leader of many political parties including New Alliance of Faso (NAFA). Known as a peacemaker in Africa, he was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2007 to 2008 and from 2011 to 2014. Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo, party leader of the Alliance for Democracy and Federation – African Democratic Rally (ADF-RDA),"Présidentielle au Burkina: Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo investi candidat", Radio France Internationale, 9 August 2015 fr. Minister of Transport from 2006 to 2013. Electoral code and controversy In April 2015 the interim legislature passed an electoral code banning any MPs who supported the constitutional amendment to scrap term limits from contesting the elections."Burkina Faso blocks Compaore allies from elections", BBC News, 8 April 2015.Burkina : le CDP et ses alliés suspendent leur participation à la transition - Jeune Afrique.com https://www.jeuneafrique.com/229091/politique/burkina-le-cdp-et-ses-alli-s-suspendent-leur-participation-la-transition/ 2025-01-15 Jeune Afrique fr-FR The reform of the electoral code was adopted by the transitional parliament on 7 April and signed by President Kafando on 10 April. In protest, the former ruling CDP and its allies announced on 10 April 2015 that they were suspending participation in the National Transition Council and the National Commission for Reconciliation and Reforms, saying the new electoral code was a means of political exclusion. On 13 July 2015 the ECOWAS Court of Justice ruled against the exclusionary law. According to the court, preventing people from contesting the elections on the basis of a political stance was "a violation of their fundamental human rights".2015-07-15 Court scraps electoral ban on Burkina Faso leader's supporters http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKCN0PO0I720150714 https://web.archive.org/web/20150715111851/http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKCN0PO0I720150714 dead 2015-07-15 2025-01-15 Reuters On 16 July 2015 President Kafando confirmed that Burkina Faso would apply ECOWAS's judgment.Situation nationale : Les grandes décisions de Michel Kafando - leFaso.net https://lefaso.net/spip.php?article65889 2025-01-15 Le Faso fr However, on the same day the transitional government charged Blaise Compaoré with "high treason" over his bid to change the constitution and run for a third term. In addition to these charges against Compaoré, the transitional parliament brought murder and assault charges against all government officials who approved of his bid to stay on."Burkina: Blaise Compaore et ses ministres mis en accusation devant la haute cour de justice", Burkina24, 16 July 2015. The sudden charges were criticized by some, as they were perceived as a new manoeuvre from the transitional government to exclude all serious candidates from running in the upcoming elections. It also reasserted the suspicions of partiality and instrumentalisation that surround the transitional government. Compaoré supporters appealed to the Constitutional Council to annul the charges.2015-07-30 Burkina: demande d'annulation de la mise en accusation de Compaoré https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20150730-burkina-demande-annulation-accusation-compaore-conseil-constitutionnel 2025-01-15 RFI fr On 10 August, the court ruled that it lacked the authority to decide whether the charges should be annulled."Loyalist challenge to ousted Burkina leader's treason case fails", AFP, 10 August 2015. 22 people submitted applications to stand as presidential candidates by the deadline at midnight on 21 August 2015. The list included politicians who had served under Compaoré, such as Djibril Bassolé, as well as politicians who had opposed him, such as Bénéwendé Sankara and Zéphirin Diabré.2015-08-22 Burkina Faso: 22 candidats pour une présidentielle très ouverte https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20150822-burkina-faso-22-candidats-presidentielle-11-octobre-sere-sankara-diabre-kabore-bass 2025-01-15 RFI fr Despite the ECOWAS ruling against the exclusionary law, the Constitutional Council ruled on 25 August that the law had never been overturned by the authorities in Burkina Faso and therefore remained in effect. Accordingly, it barred 42 prospective candidates who had supported changing the constitution from standing as parliamentary candidates, including CDP leader Eddie Komboïgo and ADF-RDA leader Gilbert Noel Ouedraogo.2015-08-26 Burkina Faso: 42 pro-Compaoré déclarés "inéligibles" aux législatives https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20150826-burkina-verdict-candidatures-elections-legislatives-42-ineligibles 2025-01-15 RFI fr2015-08-26 Burkina Excludes ex-President's Allies from Legislative Election https://www.voanews.com/a/burkina-excludes-ex-president-allies-from-legislative-election/2932826.html 2025-01-15 Voice of America en Outraged, the CDP vowed civil disobedience and potentially an electoral boycott, arguing that the ruling was illegal and unconstitutional, that it denied the rights of citizens to participate in the political process and ignored the ECOWAS ruling. Parties which had supported Compaoré promptly appealed to the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.2015-08-27 Burkina Faso: la colère des partis de l'ex-majorité https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20150827-burkina-faso-colere-partis-ex-majorite-cdp-compaore 2025-01-15 RFI fr On 29 August 2015, the Constitutional Council announced that 16 of the 22 prospective candidates would be allowed to run. As with the parliamentary election, CDP leader Eddie Komboïgo and ADF-RDA leader Gilbert Noel Ouedraogo were barred from running. All of the other candidates were allowed to run, except for four independent candidates who failed to pay the necessary deposit. Djibril Bassolé, who was Compaoré's last foreign minister, was cleared to stand.Burkina dismisses election candidates linked to ex-president https://www.news24.com/News24/Burkina-dismisses-election-candidates-linked-to-ex-president-20150829-2 2025-01-15 News24 en-USPrésidentielle au Burkina : Bassolé présent, Komboïgo et Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo recalés - Jeune Afrique.com https://www.jeuneafrique.com/260744/politique/presidentielle-burkina-bassole-present-komboigo-gilbert-noel-ouedraogo-recales/ 2025-01-15 Jeune Afrique fr-FR Komboïgo condemned the court's ruling, saying that it was politically motivated."Burkina bars ex-leader's party candidate from presidential vote"November 2016 InternetArchiveBot yes , Agence France-Presse, 30 August 2015. Three candidates argued that Djibril Bassolé and Yacouba Ouedraogo, who were both serving in the government when Compaoré was ousted in October 2014, should also be excluded because they were present at a government meeting to prepare legislation that would have scrapped presidential term limits. The Constitutional Council accepted this argument, and on 10 September 2015 it struck Bassolé and Ouedraogo from the list of approved candidates. Of the 14 remaining candidates, Roch Marc Christian Kabore and Zéphirin Diabré, both of whom served in the government under Compaoré but later broke with him and went into opposition, were viewed as the leading contenders.2016-08-21 Burkina bars two former ministers from contesting presidency http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-burkina-election-idUKKCN0RA2RA20150910 https://web.archive.org/web/20160821001123/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-burkina-election-idUKKCN0RA2RA20150910 dead 2016-08-21 2025-01-15 Reuters September 2015 coup 2015 Burkinabe coup d'état On 16 September 2015, the Regiment of Presidential Security (RSP), the presidential guard closely linked to Compaoré, detained President Kafando and Prime Minister Zida, two days after the reforms commission had recommended dissolving the RSP. The coup leaders announced on 17 September that they were dismissing Kafando, dissolving the government and the transitional legislature, and setting up a new transitional body, the National Council for Democracy (CND), to lead the country to "inclusive and peaceful elections". In their proclamation of the CND, they denounced the transitional authorities for their allegedly undemocratic electoral law and for ignoring the recommendations of ECOWAS to scrap the exclusionary law.Proclamation du Conseil National pour la Démocratie - leFaso.net https://lefaso.net/spip.php?article66901 2025-01-15 Le Faso fr General Gilbert Diendéré was appointed as chairman of the council.2015-09-17 Burkina general says ex-president Compaore not linked to coup https://www.yahoo.com/news/burkina-general-says-ex-president-compaore-not-linked-151309050.html 2025-01-15 Yahoo News en-US Later in the day, Diendéré said that Compaoré had nothing to do with the coup and that the coup was supported by the rest of the army. He called for calm "so that we can continue on the path to inclusive and democratic elections" and appealed to the international community: "We know a coup is never accepted by the international community, but we ask it to understand the purpose of our action. We are committed to dialogue and accept certain principles of the international community." He stressed that he had no interest in politics and was only getting involved due to the "special situation", and he said that power would be returned to civilians "as soon as conditions are there". In other comments, he said that presidential and parliamentary elections would be held on a new timetable, which would be determined through consultations with "the concerned actors, notably the political parties and civil society organisations". He also promised that the exclusionary electoral law would be changed so that all political forces could participate.Romaric Ollo Hien, "Burkina coup leader pledges elections 'soon' as three killed in protests", Agence France-Presse, 17 September 2015. Two regional leaders—Macky Sall, the President of Senegal and Chairman of ECOWAS, and Boni Yayi, the President of Benin—travelled to Ouagadougou on 18 September to hold talks with Diendéré, aiming to restore the transitional government.Romaric Ollo Hien, "African Union suspends Burkina Faso, slaps sanctions on coup junta", Agence France-Presse, 18 September 2015. On 20 September, a draft agreement was announced that would involve allowing the previously excluded candidates to participate in the election. It also granted amnesty to those who participated in the coup and required the release of those who were detained by the CND. It also allowed a delay in the holding of the election, but required that it be held by 22 November.Patrick Fort and Romaric Ollo Hien, "Mooted amnesty deal for Burkina coup leaders branded 'shameful'", Agence France-Presse, 20 September 2015. The two sides appeared to still disagree about who would lead the transition: the draft agreement called for restoring Kafando as president, but the CND insisted that Diendéré should continue in his post for the remainder of the transitional period.Brahima Ouedraogo, "Burkina Faso mediators propose November vote after coup", Associated Press, 20 September 2015. The CND never clearly established its authority beyond Ouagadougou, and on 21 September army leaders announced that soldiers from the regular army were marching towards the capital to put an end to the coup.Mathieu Bonkoungou and Nadoun Coulibaly, "Burkina Faso army heads for capital to disarm coup leaders", Reuters, 21 September 2015. Facing the prospect of a confrontation with the regular army as well as ongoing street protests by opponents of the coup, who felt that the proposed terms offered too many concessions to the coup leaders, Diendéré said that the CND would abide by the draft agreement's provision for the return of civilian rule.Brahima Ouedraogo, "Burkina Faso coup leader says he will hand back power", Associated Press, 21 September 2015. Kafando was reinstalled as president at a ceremony on 23 September in the presence of ECOWAS leaders. Isaac Zida also returned to his post as prime minister. Zida said that he foresaw a delay of "several weeks" in the holding of the election. For his part, Diendéré said that the coup was a mistake and that "we knew the people were not in favour of it. That is why we have given up."Patrick Fort and Romaric Ollo Hien, "Burkina president resumes power after week-long coup", Agence France-Presse, 23 September 2015. On 25 September the RSB was disbanded by government decree. On 26 September the assets of Diendéré and others associated with the coup, as well as the assets of four political parties, including the CDP, were frozen by the state prosecutor.Mathieu Bonkoungou, "Burkina Faso prosecutor freezes assets of leader of failed coup", Reuters, 26 September 2015. Djibril Bassolé and Eddie Komboïgo, who were barred from standing as presidential candidates, both had their assets frozen.Hervé Taoko, "Coup faction in Burkina Faso fails to disarm, officials say", The New York Times, 28 September 2015. Bassolé was arrested on 29 September for allegedly supporting the coup.Mathieu Bonkoungou and Nadoun Coulibaly, "Burkina army enters presidential guard camp, coup leader gone", Reuters, 29 September 2015. Electoral system The President was elected using the two-round system, with a run-off election due to be held 15 days after the election results were declared if no candidate received over 50% of the vote in the first round. Campaign It was reported on 13 October that the election would be held on 29 November 2015."Burkina elections to be held November 29, say candidates", Agence France-Presse, 13 October 2015. Later in the month, the CDP stated that, with its own candidate barred from running, it planned to support another candidate in the election. It also said that it would replace its parliamentary candidates who had been barred from running."Présidentielle au Burkina: le CDP soutiendra un des candidats en lice", Radio France Internationale, 21 October 2015 fr. The official campaigning period began on 8 November, with 14 presidential candidates running. Kabore launched his campaign in Bobo-Dioulasso, with 30,000 supporters in attendance, while Diabre launched his campaign in Fada N'Gourma and Sankara in Solenzo."Fourteen candidates open race for Burkina Faso presidency", Reuters, 8 November 2015. The campaign heavily favored wealthy candidates and did not provide opportunities for parties with fewer resources to build grassroots campaigns.http://allafrica.com/stories/201512041786.html, Editorial:Burkina Faso: The "People's Victory" - President-Elect Kaboré and the Democratic Road Ahead for Burkina Faso, By Brian J. Peterson is Associate Professor of History, Union College, New York, 4 December 2015 Some candidates had sufficient wealth to employ helicopters to ferry them between campaign rallies and rally support from the country's predominately rural population. Results Partial results released on 30 November, reflecting votes from 253 out of 368 communes, showed Kaboré with a strong lead over Diabré, 54.27% to 29.16%.Romaric Ollo Hien and Patrick Fort, "Burkina's ex-PM Kabore looks set to win presidential vote", Agence France-Presse, 30 November 2015. The electoral commission announced on 1 December that Kaboré had won the election in the first round with 53.5% of the vote against 29.7% for Diabré. Turnout was placed at about 60%.Mathieu Bonkoungou and Nadoun Coulibaly, "Kabore wins Burkina Faso presidential election", Reuters, 1 December 2015. Results for the parliamentary election were announced on 2 December 2015, showing that Kaboré's party, the MPP, placed first with 55 out of 127 seats, but fell short of a majority. Diabré's party, the UPC, won 33 seats, and the CDP won 18.Patrick Fort and Romaric Ollo Hien, "Burkina president-elect's party tops legislative poll, no majority", Agence France-Presse, 2 December 2015. Final official results from the Constitutional Council were announced on 15 December 2015, confirming that Kaboré won the election with 53% of the vote."Burkina Faso high court confirms final presidential results", Associated Press, 15 December 2015. He was sworn in as president on 29 December 2015."Burkina Faso swears in new president, capping transition", Agence France-Presse, 29 December 2015. The National Assembly elected Salif Diallo, a leading member of the MPP, as President of the National Assembly on 30 December. He received 78 votes from the 127 deputies."Former Compaore ally elected head of Burkina Faso national assembly", Agence France-Presse, 31 December 2015. President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré People's Movement for Progress 1668169 Zéphirin Diabré Union for Progress and Reform 924811 Tahirou Barry fr National Rebirth Party 96457 Bénéwendé Stanislas Sankara Union for Rebirth / Sankarist Party 86459 Ablassé Ouedraogo Faso Otherwise 60134 Saran Sérémé Party for Development and Change 53900 Victorien Barnabé Wendkouni Tougouma African Movement of the Peoples 50893 Jean-Baptiste Natama Independent 42497 Isaaka Zampaligré Independent 38064 Adama Kanazoé Independent 37766 Ram Ouédraogo Rally of the Ecologists of Burkina 21161 Maurice Denis Salvador Yameogo Rally of Democrats for Faso 15266 Boukaré Ouédraogo Independent 15007 Françoise Toé fr Independent 8111 191293 5517015 CENI National Assembly File:National Assembly of Burkina Faso 2015 elections.svg National Regional Total +/– People's Movement for Progress 1096814 6 49 55 New Union for Progress and Reform 648784 3 30 33 +14 Congress for Democracy and Progress 417058 2 16 18 –52 New Alliance of Faso 130963 1 1 2 New Union for Rebirth / Sankarist Party 118662 1 4 5 +1 Alliance for Democracy and Federation – African Democratic Rally 96614 1 2 3 –15 New Era for Democracy 70374 1 2 3 New National Rebirth Party 59421 1 1 2 +2 Party for Democracy and Socialism/Metba 58589 0 1 1 –1 Alternative Faso 45405 0 1 1 0 Party for Development and Change 43614 0 0 0 New Organisation for Democracy and Labour 28469 0 1 1 0 Union for a New Burkina 27147 0 1 1 New Rally for Democracy and Socialism 25783 0 1 1 0 Social Forces Front 21030 0 0 0 0 Movement for Democracy in Africa 18310 0 1 1 New Alliance of Youths for Independence and the Republic 17711 0 0 0 New Burkina Yirwa 15955 0 0 0 New Alternative Burkina / Party for Socialism and Refourmation 13316 0 0 0 0 African Movement of the Peoples 9656 0 0 0 0 Patriotic Convergence for Renewal / Progressive Movement 9012 0 0 0 New Patriotic Movement for the Renewal of Burkina 8991 0 0 0 0 Union of Revolutionaries for Faso 8662 0 0 0 New National Liberation Movement 8365 0 0 0 New Union for the Republic 8110 0 0 0 –5 National Council for Reform 7989 0 0 0 0 Rally of the Ecologists of Burkina 7932 0 0 0 0 Alliance of Progressive Forces 7670 0 0 0 0 Civic Renewal 7097 0 0 0 New Republican Party for Total Independence 5229 0 0 0 0 Patriotic Party for Development 5112 0 0 0 0 National Union for Democracy and Development 5022 0 0 0 –1 People's Council for Action 4844 0 0 0 0 Patriotic Movement of Burkina 4429 0 0 0 New Rally of Democrats for Faso 4143 0 0 0 New Convergence for Emergence and Development 4056 0 0 0 New Rally for Independent Forces/Party of the Youth of Burkina 3578 0 0 0 0 National Party of Social Democrats 3428 0 0 0 0 Organisation for Democracy and Progress 3366 0 0 0 New Conscious Youth of Burkina 3303 0 0 0 New Rally of the Republicans 3180 0 0 0 0 Coalition for the Republic–Progressive Party 2909 0 0 0 New Union of Progressive Forces 2904 0 0 0 0 Party for Democracy and Progress / Socialist Party 2882 0 0 0 0 Independents for Development Neerwaya 2868 0 0 0 New Republican Party for Integration and Solidarity 2865 0 0 0 New Party for the Rebirth of Democracy in Faso 2747 0 0 0 0 Rally of Patriots for Renewal 2654 0 0 0 New Burkinabé Democratic Union for Rebirth 2605 0 0 0 New Union for Development of Sanmatenga 2379 0 0 0 New Party for National Unity and Development 2319 0 0 0 0 Rally of Independents of Houet 2319 0 0 0 New Alliance for Rebirth, Democracy and Integration 2058 0 0 0 New Alliance for Democracy in Faso 1926 0 0 0 0 Burkina Laafia Party 1923 0 0 0 New Union for the Democratic Rebirth of Burkina 1903 0 0 0 0 Party for Democracy and Youth 1888 0 0 0 New Movement for Progress and Reform 1848 0 0 0 0 Movement of the People for Democracy 1610 0 0 0 New Unified Socialist Party 1568 0 0 0 0 Convention for Alternation, Democracy and Equality in Faso 1486 0 0 0 New Ecologist Party for New Development 1427 0 0 0 New Union for the Movement of the People 1413 0 0 0 New Rally of the Liberals 1393 0 0 0 New Convergence of Popular Masses 1209 0 0 0 New Pan-African Movement of Faso 1203 0 0 0 0 National Party for Development and Peace 1150 0 0 0 New Party of Pan-African Patriots 1133 0 0 0 0 League of Youths for Employment and Training 1120 0 0 0 New Progressive Front 1070 0 0 0 New BEOGO-NEERE Independent Group 1069 0 0 0 New Fasocrat Party 1050 0 0 0 New Bindjo 1009 0 0 0 New Positive Reform 990 0 0 0 New Les Afranchis 970 0 0 0 New Party of Progress for National Renewal 869 0 0 0 Democratic and Patriotic Rally of Faso 867 0 0 0 New Development for All 831 0 0 0 New Rally for a Republican Start 742 0 0 0 New Union of Democratic Forces of Burkina 692 0 0 0 0 Party for National Cohesion 666 0 0 0 New Cultural Action Movement for Finishing Politics 657 0 0 0 New Party of Progressive Patriots 602 0 0 0 0 National Union of Independents for Reform 562 0 0 0 New Party for the Protection of the Environment/Nature Conservation 519 0 0 0 0 Independent Group La Fraternite 488 0 0 0 New Ecoculture 450 0 0 0 New Movement for Democracy and Rebirth 428 0 0 0 New Party of Militants of the People 423 0 0 0 New National Union for Democracy and Progress 341 0 0 0 0 Party for Progress and Freedom in Burkina 268 0 0 0 New Group of Independents for Democracy 241 0 0 0 New Movement for Democracy and Development 186 0 0 0 New Group of Independents for Peace and Development 183 0 0 0 New New Social Democracy 165 0 0 0 New Centrist Party for Democracy and Progress 160 0 0 0 0 New Democratic Initiative 94 0 0 0 New Group of Independents for Integration and Tolerance 85 0 0 0 New Alliance for the Republic and Democracy 71 0 0 0 0 0 157543 5517015 CENI, CENI Reactions The head of the electoral commission, Barthelemy Kere, said that "this election went off in calm and serenity, which shows the maturity of the people of Burkina Faso." Zephirin Diabre, the runner-up in the vote, came to President-elect Roch Marc Christian Kabore's campaign headquarters as Kabore's supporters celebrated the win to congratulate him, Al Jazeera reported.http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/12/burkina-faso-elects-leader-historic-election-151201033702594.html Burkina Faso elects new leader in historic vote 1 December 2015 3 December 2015 Al Jazeera Foreign governments also extended congratulations to Kabore, including those of Ghanahttp://gbcghana.com/1.8472375 President Mahama Congratulates Burkina Faso President Elect Ghana Broadcasting Corporation 3 December 2015 3 December 2015 and the United States.http://allafrica.com/stories/201512031413.html allAfrica.com Burkina Faso: United States Congratulates Burkina Faso On Peaceful Election 1 December 2015 3 December 2015 References Burkina Faso General Category:Parliamentary elections in Burkina Faso Category:Presidential elections in Burkina Faso Category:November 2015 elections Category:November 2015 in Africa