Burkina Faso Will Seek Continuity Amid Unrest

Gen. Honore Traore, the chief of staff of Burkina Faso's military, has announced the dissolution of the country's parliament and has said that a transitional government will be created to rule for a period of 12 months. The announcement came after Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore dissolved the government and called for opposition negotiations Oct. 30 after protesters — estimated by the opposition to be around a million supporters, while foreign media networks have estimated the number to be in the tens of thousands — invaded and ransacked the country’s parliament in Ouagadougou. Compaore's current status is unclear. One unconfirmed report claims he has fled the country, while the Burkinabe opposition has called for Compaore to resign.

Protests against Compaore's bid for an extended term have been critical, but there has been no domestic dispute over Burkina Faso’s economic or foreign policies. These policies focus on conflict mediation in the West African subregion and the development of the country’s mining sector, two areas that highlight Burkina Faso's importance to the international system.