After several years of suspension, political parties in Burkina Faso have been formally dissolved by the military government, which has also seized all their assets in a move analysts say is a major blow for democracy in the West African nation. In a decree issued on Thursday, the government, led by Captain Ibrahim Traore, scrapped all laws which established and regulated political parties, accusing them of failing to comply with guidelines.
Sudan must face 2022 champions Senegal in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations after losing 2-0 to Burkina Faso in their final group game, while Algeria beat Equatorial Guinea 3-1. Lassina Traore's early strike put Burkina Faso ahead at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca on Wednesday, before Algozoli Nooh squandered the chance to equalise for Sudan when he put a penalty wide.
Burkina Faso begin their Afcon campaign with plenty of hope. Over the past 12 years they have finished second, third and fourth, and will be optimistic of going a long way in the tournament. Sunderland's Bertrand Traore is the skipper but there is no shortage of quality in the squad. Dango Outtarra of Brentford is the other Premier League representative, while right-back Issa Kabore, who wears the No 9 shirt, is another experienced player with over 50 caps despite only being 24 years old.
A new chapter began for Burkina Faso on September 30, 2022, when a group of military officers led by Captain Ibrahim Traore staged a coup. His predecessor, Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, had only months earlier ousted the last democratically elected president, Roch Marc Christian Kabore, and declared himself head of state. Traore justified his own takeover by citing the worsening threat of terrorism. He promised to defeat the extremists within six months and hold democratic elections within a year.
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