In Burkina Faso, the various actors involved in the next election promise not to add fuel to the fire in an already fragile context. Candidates, media leaders, social organizations, activists signed a pact on good behavior under the leadership of the General Communications Council for a campaign and peaceful elections.
as reported from Ouagadougou, Yaya Boudani
The ultimate goal of this pact is to prevent political election discourse from jeopardizing social cohesion. The signing took place on Monday 26 October in the presence of the Head of Government and representatives of the technical and economic partners involved in the organization of the elections on 22 November.
By signing this Pact of Good Conduct, the various candidates for presidential and legislative elections, officials and civil society officials commit themselves to a campaign and a peaceful election.
“Candidates are committed to treating and avoiding any hate speech, stigma and sharing. They undertake to make use of legal dispute resolution bodies if necessary. They are committed to training their activists to use a calming and unifying language, ”said Mathias Tankoano, President of the Higher Council for Communications.
Clément Sawadogo, representing the candidate Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, assures us that the majority parties’ member parties will do their utmost to respect this commitment: “We are committed to a peaceful campaign, a campaign of courtesy, a campaign of mutual respect and mutual consideration ”.
Zéphirin Diabré, the leader of the opposition, believes that this pact on good behavior does not cover all aspects of the election campaign. “There is behavior that we are currently seeing in the field that poses a problem for us. When we see everything that is like election corruption, it does not solve all the issues that something can destroy transparency and therefore appease the election. We need to have a much more in-depth reflection, ”he emphasizes.
A few days before the official opening of the election campaign, the President of the Higher Council for Communications assures us that his institution will ensure compliance with this pact of good conduct.
► To read: Burkina Faso: President Kaboré takes stock of his five-year term
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