Paris – The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged Senegalese authorities to organize a presidential election promptly.

According to Burkina Information Agency, France emphasizes the necessity for the Senegalese government to conduct the election swiftly, adhering to the nation’s Constitution, and ensuring public freedoms. French diplomacy has also appealed to all Senegalese entities to engage in dialogue and maintain the country’s longstanding democratic traditions. This development follows Senegalese President Macky Sall’s cancellation of the previously scheduled February 25 presidential election in a February 3 televised address. Sall cited a controversy regarding the candidate list as the reason for rescinding his decree calling voters to the polls. Consequently, a new date for the election has not been set. President Sall also called for a ‘national dialogue’ ahead of the election. The opposition has denounced the president’s actions and initiated acts of civil disobedience, leading to police intervention and arrests.

OUAGADOUGOU – The Burkina Faso Ministry of Defense announced the dismissal of four soldiers from the Armed Forces on February 9, 2024, citing serious offenses including theft and concealment of military materials. The decision was made public by Brigadier General Kassoum Coulibaly, the Minister of Defense, as part of a broader effort to maintain discipline and integrity within the ranks.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the dismissed personnel were identified as Privates 2nd class Ousseni Tassembedo and Mevis Armel Bamogo, along with Private 1st class Roger Ouédraogo. These individuals were implicated in arms trafficking, theft, and concealment of materials belonging to the army. Additionally, Private 1st Class Souleymane Nessao faced accusations of fraud. These actions led to their removal, bringing the total number of soldiers dismissed for misconduct since the beginning of the year to six.

This move aligns with the Head of State, Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s, January 8 announcement of a zero-tolerance policy towards any behavior that jeopardizes the military’s efforts to reclaim territory from terrorist groups. The dismissals underscore the government’s commitment to upholding high standards of conduct within its armed forces.