Many fear there is a crisis brewing in the West Africa nation of Burkina Faso as the ruling government makes moves to ensure their political survival. While all focus has been on Mali over the last few months, there is a crisis in the making in the West African nation of Burkina Faso where a proposed Senate has provoked four massive demonstrations in a month with the opposition party making three shows of force on 28 and 29 June and 20 July. President Blaise Compaore's political party responded with a protest from its followers on 6 July. “No to the curse of nepotism and tyranic authority” – Photo from the protests on 20 July via Twitter user @Bambyam. Used with permission. Why all of these protests? Nico Ramirez, who writes on the website Diktacratie [fr] explains in his article Burkina Faso: in the land of corrupt man [fr] (The name Burkina Faso means the “land of honest people”): C’est la mise en place d’un Sénat, la dernière trouvaille du régime pour assurer sa survie, qui a enflammé les esprits. Plus d’élus pour plus de démocratie, un bon gros mensonge pour nourrir des estomacs vides ! À côté des 39 représentants des collectivités territoriales, élus au suffrage indirect, et d’une douzaine de représentants de la société civile, le Sénat comptera également 29 sénateurs nommés par Blaise soi-même, comme ça c’est plus simple. It is the establishment of a Senate that has angered the public. This is the latest tactic that the regime has unveiled in order to assure its survival. More elected representatives must mean more democracy. A big fat lie for hungry mouths to chew on. Aside from the 39 representatives of the regional authorities, that were elected by indirect suffrage, and the dozen representatives from civil society, the Senate will also have 29 Senators who have been appointed by Blaise himself…its easier to do things that way… Still, that is not the only cause for frustration as Justin Yarga, an online journalist and blogger for Burkina 24 [fr] explains in an article entitled Burkina Faso: Quand la présidentielle de 2015 se prépare déjà dans la rue (Burkina Faso: the 2015 Presidential Race Already Taking to the Streets) [fr] that was published on the blog Noise From Africa: Pour le parti au pouvoir, cette chambre de sages participe du renforcement de la démocratie. Mais l’opposition y voit le moyen pour le parti au pouvoir et ses alliés de s’assurer une majorité qualifiée qui lui permette, en l’absence de son allié de poids l’ADF-RDA, de modifier l’article 37 et donner ainsi la possibilité d’un second mandat au président Blaise Compaoré. In the eyes of the political party in power, this chamber of wise men contributes to the reinforcement of democracy. But the opposition sees it as a means for those in power, and their allies, to guarantee that there will be a qualified majority. This will allow them, in the absence of its strongest ally the ADF-RDA (Rassemblement Democratique Africain /Alliance pour la Democratie et la Federation) to modify Article 37 and thus pave the way for a Blaise Compaoré's second term. Photo taken on 6 July during protests supporting the current regime. Used with permission from @bambyam The International Crisis Group (ICG), an NGO that works to prevent and resolve conflicts, wrote in its report, Burkina Faso: With or Without Compaoré, Times of Uncertainty: Pour la première fois depuis 1987, la question de la succession du président burkinabè est ouvertement posée. La Constitution interdit en effet à Blaise Compaoré, au pouvoir depuis plus d’un quart de siècle, de briguer un nouveau mandat en 2015. Sa marge de manœuvre est très étroite. S’il respecte la loi fondamentale, sa succession risque d’être difficile tant il a dominé la vie politique et fermé les possibilités d’alternance. S’il modifie la Constitution et se porte candidat à un cinquième mandat consécutif, il prend le risque de déclencher un soulèvement populaire comme celui qui a fait vaciller son régime au premier semestre de l’année 2011. Les partenaires internationaux doivent l’inciter à respecter la loi fondamentale et permettre une transition démocratique en douceur. For the first time since 1987 the issue of the Burkinabè presidential successor has been openly discussed. The constitution does not allow Blaise Compaoré, who has been in power for more than 25 years, to seek out a new term in 2015. He has very little leeway. If he respects the basic laws of the country, it will be difficult to succeed him. He has dominated the political arena so much that the possibility of any other choice is severely limited.