Burkina Faso holds election under looming threat of violence

Burkina Faso voted on Sunday in a general election in the shadow of a growing militancy, and with opposition candidates warning of a "massive fraud" at the polls.

According to Press TV, President Roch Marc Christian Kabore is seeking a second five-year term, campaigning on achievements such as free healthcare for children under the age of five and paving some of the red dirt roads that snake across the arid West African country.

But a surge in attacks by groups with links to al-Qaeda and Daesh has eclipsed everything and the violence has cost more than 2,000 lives this year alone.

After casting his vote in a school in Ouagadougou, Kabore told reporters: "I call on all Burkinabe to vote, whatever their leaning. It’s about the democracy of Burkina Faso, it’s about development, it’s about peace."

The electoral commission has said that polling stations will remain shut across much of the north and east for fear of violence.

"There are a certain number of polling stations which opened in the east (of the country) and in other regions but then had to close because of threats," Electoral Commission Had Newton Ahmed Barry said, without giving further details.

"Some individuals barred the people from taking part in the vote," he said, but added that "overall... everything is going well."

At least 400,000 people - nearly 7% of the electorate – will be unable to cast their votes, official data shows.

"We need someone who is going to bring peace to our country. The president needs a second mandate to end what has started," said 59-year-old secretarial worker Maimouna Tapsoba after voting in Ouagadougou.

The Election Commission said some voters had experienced difficulties finding their polling stations but did not report wider disruptions.

ME