The walls of Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou are smothered in posters as more than a dozen rivals try to win over voters ahead of Sunday’s general election.
But one colour — orange — dominates.
It’s the campaign colour of President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, who is running for a second term, defying criticism of his failure to blunt a jihadist insurgency.
Kabore, aged 63, is the big favourite in Sunday’s presidential election.
His supporters are hoping for an outright victory in the first round, obviating the need for a runoff vote.
But in the West African country’s most open elections in years, Kabore faces a stiff challenge from Zephirin Diabre, the runner-up in 2015’s election, and Eddie Komboigo, standing for the party of former president Blaise Compaore, who was ousted in a popular uprising in 2014.
Burkina Faso’s security crisis has dominated the campaign. Kabore has relied on the military to fight the threat, but some are now saying that dialogue with the jihadists should be explored.
Located in the heart of the Sahel, this impoverished country of some 20 million people is in the fifth year of a crisis that has claimed more than 1,200 lives and forced a million people from their homes.
But Kabore’s supporters say he has a long-term plan for combatting the jihadists — and now is not the time to rock the boat.
