Key actors are trading accusations and counter-accusations as the transition period draws to an end in Burkina Faso.

As the transition process in Burkina Faso draws to a close with the culminating aspect being the general elections of October 11, 2015, the country’s social and political climate is tense with different actors jostling to have their desires satisfied. Transition President Michel Kafando and his term are firm and determined to lead the process to the end despite all odds.

The hot potato in shows of the transition government is the tussle between the transition Prime Minister, Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Yacouba Zida and the elite military corps, the Presidential Security Regiment (RSP). Not only does the RSP want the Prime Minister who was its former deputy commander to resign but is insisting that all soldiers in the transition government should resign before the October 11 polls.

The soldiers of the regiment reportedly made a failed attempt to topple the Prime Minister on June 27, 2015 though they claim that Mr Zida faked the coup to maintain himself in power. Government has taken stringent security measures with some officials of the Presidential Security Regiment interrogated. The soldiers have called on President Michel Kafando who is mediating the crisis to form a new government of exclusively civilians ahead of the presidential election.

In the various political party headquarters there are anthill activities with the nomination of candidates for the upcoming presidential election. Roch Marc Christian Kaboré was for instance last weekend nominated the presidential flagbearer of the People Movement for Progress (Mouvement du peuple pour le progrès (MPP)) party.

Civil society organisations have been active trying to reshape the country’s political and social life. The Coordination of the Organisation of Civil Society (OSC) comprised of some 20 organisations on June 30, 2015 in the capital, Ouagadougou made their voices heard. In a release civil society organisations have called for soldiers who occupy political positions and are also aspirants to political functions to choose one aspect by resigning from the other.

Besides Prime Minister Zida, the call is addressed to other soldiers in government such as General Djibril Bassolet, and Colonels Yacouba Ouédraogo and Jean Baptiste Natama Assolet, Observateur Paalga. They further called for demilitarisation of power and the dissolution of the Presidential Security Regiment and respect of the transition calendar enshrined in the charter.

The civil society supports the adoption of the new constitution and the passage to the Fifth Republic. Civil society organisations appreciate the work of the International Group to follow up the transition process but called on some members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECCAS) to respect the political choices of the people of Burkina Faso.

Hustling and bustling started surfacing in the country’s political landscape when the transition authorities took a decision barring close aides of ousted President Blaise Compaoré from contesting for elections.