The Military Junta in Burkina Faso has extended their hold on power for another five years.
The country’s ruler, Capt Ibrahim TraorĂ©, will also be able to contest the next presidential election, the state-owned broadcaster says.
When he seized power in a coup nearly two years ago, Capt Traore pledged to restore the civilian government by 1 July this year.
But Burkina Faso has now joined neighbouring Mali in extending military rule.
The move was announced on Saturday, after a national consultation meeting in the capital city, Ouagadougou.
An amended charter, signed by Capt Traoré, states that the new 60-month transition period will take effect from 2 July this year.
“The elections marking the end of the transition may be organised before this deadline if the security situation so permits,”
Burkina Faso has been governed by the army since January 2022, when Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba seized power from President Roch Kaboré.
Col Damiba justified the coup by saying the previous government had failed to deal with growing militant Islamist violence.
Since 2015, jihadist rebels affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group have waged a grinding insurgency that has killed thousands and displaced millions.
In September 2022, Capt Traoré ousted Col Damiba, arguing a second coup was necessary because Col Damiba was himself unable to tackle the insurgency.
Capt TraorĂ© promised to improve the country’s dire security situation within “two to three months” and restore civilian rule within 21 months.
But since issuing the pledge, Capt TraorĂ© has warned that elections are not “a priority” until territory is recaptured from jihadist forces so that all citizens of the country can vote.
International and human rights groups, including the European Union and UN, have accused Burkina Faso of serious human rights violations in its fight against Islamists, including the indiscriminate killings and forced disappearances of dozens of civilians.