OUAGADOUGOU — The government of Burkina Faso has adopted a preliminary draft constitutional law that proposes significant changes to the nation's Constitution, including modifications to the national motto and procedures for approving international agreements, as announced during the Council of Ministers meeting chaired by President Ibrahim Traoré on Wednesday.

According to Burkina Information Agency, Edasso Rodrigue Bayala, the draft law seeks to amend Article 34 of the Constitution to change the national motto from "Unity-Progress-Justice" to "The Fatherland or Death, We Will Conquer." This change is intended to strengthen patriotic sentiment and reinvigorate civic commitment among the population.

Additionally, the draft law proposes an amendment to Article 147, which currently requires that agreements establishing a Federation, Confederation, or the entry of Burkina Faso into a Union of States at the African level be approved by a popular referendum. The amendment would allow for legislative approval of such agreements in cases of urgency or force majeure, following consultation with the Constitutional Council, while still maintaining the primary requirement of a referendum.

In other decisions, the Council approved the establishment of the Burkina Information Agency (AIB) as a State Public Establishment to enhance its capacity for providing accurate and professional information. The government also authorized the recruitment of 11 translators-interpreters to support the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reflecting the country’s diplomatic expansion and the need to engage with new international partners.