The Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP), the Burkinabe opposition party of former president Blaise Compaoré, has designated party president Eddie Komboïgo as its candidate for the November presidential election. Komboïgo had been the party’s candidate for the 2015 election, but his candidacy was subsequently rejected owing to a law that excluded politicians close to Compaoré who supported the former president’s attempt to modify the Burkinabe constitution. This move spurred a popular revolt and led to Compaoré’s overthrow in 2014.
The opposition parties are hoping to ensure the defeat of Kaboré’s MPP party
The CDP will be facing off against not only incumbent president Roch Marc Christian Kaboré but also Zéphirin Diabré, the opposition leader and head of the Union for Progress and Change (UPC) party. Diabré was nominated for the presidency a day before Komboïgo.
The CDP and UPC have agreed to run a joint ticket should the presidential election go to a second round, hoping to ensure the defeat of Kaboré’s People’s Movement for Progress (MPP).