Burkina Results Due After Historic Poll

The presidency was contested by 14 candidates AFP

Provisional results from Burkina Faso's first president and parliamentary elections since the overthrow of long-serving ruler Blaise Compaoré are due later today.  "For the first time in 50 years there is an electoral uncertainty - we don't know the winner in advance," said Abdoulaye Soma, the head of the Burkinabe society of constitutional law, the AFP news agency reports.

Counting is currently underway following Sunday's elections. Fourteen candidates ran for the presidency, with Roch Marc Christian Kabore and Zephirin Diabre the front-runners.

Both were allies of Mr Compaoré until they fell out with him. 

Mr Compaoré fled to neighbouring Côte d'Ivoire last year after a popular uprising ended his 27-year rule. Military officers allied with him staged a seven-day coup in September before domestic and international pressure forced them to hand power back to a transitional government which organized the elections.

Counting Under Way In Burkina Faso Elections

BBC reports that Counting is under way in Burkina Faso where voters have been choosing a new president and parliament after a year of political turmoil. It is the first election since last year's popular uprising which toppled longstanding president Blaise Compaoré. The vote was due to have been held last month but was delayed by a failed coup in September led by members of the elite presidential guard.

Provisional results are expected by Monday evening.

Long queues formed outside many polling stations before they closed at 18:00 GMT.

Security has been tight with up to 25,000 troops and police deployed across the country and foreign observers oversaw the poll.

The election is meant to mark the end of the transitional period following Mr Compaoré's removal. Analysts say it could be the most open and democratic vote in the country's history.

"It is a victory for the youth that has expressed its will for change and for real democracy," said transitional President Michel Kafando as he cast his vote.

Former President Blaise Compaoré was forced from office by street protests in October 2014 over his plans to serve another five-year term. He had been in power for 27 years.

A transitional government was installed but the country was thrown into turmoil again in September when members of the elite presidential guard led a short-lived coup. The attempt failed and the guard was disbanded.

Fourteen candidates are standing for the presidency and reports suggest that Roch Marc Christian Kabore and Zephirin Diabre are the front-runners.

Economist Mr Diabre has served as minister of economy and finance before he fell out with Mr Compaoré in 2010.
Mr Kabore served as prime minister and chairman of the Congress for Democracy and Progress party (CDP) before leaving the party in 2014, after opposing plans to extend Mr Compaoré's rule.