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The overwhelming majority of Burkina Faso’s citizens prefer democracy over all other forms of government and affirm that elections are the best method for choosing leaders, new Afrobarometer survey findings show.

Clear majorities also reject military rule and believe that neighbouring countries have a duty to try to guarantee free elections and prevent human rights abuses in Burkina Faso.

Based on a national survey conducted in May 2015, these findings highlight firm public support for democracy as the country pursues its political transition in the wake of a coup d’état by the presidential guard.

The African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the United Nations have condemned the coup, and Leaders of other West African countries have taken an active role in mediating the crisis.

Key findings

• Four of five Burkinabé (81%) say democracy is preferable to any other form of government (Figure 1).
• More than nine of 10 (95%) say elections are the best method for choosing leaders (Figure 2).
• A majority of Burkinabé (59%) reject military rule as a way to govern the country, while 33% embrace military rule
• (Figure 3).
• Two-thirds (66%) of Burkinabé say that West African governments should help guarantee free elections and prevent human-rights abuses in neighbouring countries, including through the use of political pressure, sanctions, or military force (Figure 4).