The Stream

Thousands in Burkina Faso reject 28+ year president

Protesters rally against bill to extend term limits for Blaise Compaore.

Massive protests are rocking Burkina Faso as the country’s president of 27 years plans to change the constitutional term limits in order to seek re-election.

Reportedly chanting, “Step aside!”, thousands of protesters took to the streets on Tuesday and Wednesday to call on President Blaise Compaore to end plans to change Article 37 of the country’s constitution. Compaore’s presidency is slated to end in November 2015. However, that could change after Thursday when parliament debates a bill to amend constitutional term limits.

Online, many documented the rallies with #Article37 and #BlaiseDegage (“Blaise Leave”), echoing opposition party calls to halt the bill.