AP: Burkina Faso moves ahead with vote despite extremist attacks
UC faculty member Alex Thurston’s expertise in West African politics reaches a national audience
As the U.S. grapples with its own election woes, UC faculty member Alex Thurston explains the political unrest in West Africia leading up to a Nov. 22 election there.
Thurston, an assistant professor of political science, is cited as an expert in an Associated Press article covering the political unrest in the West African country of Burkina Faso.
“The stakes are high in a way, because of (Burkina Faso’s) severe problems and the importance of consolidating democracy,” he says.
This month’s vote is only Burkina Faso’s second democratically held election since gaining independence from France in 1960. The first one was held five years ago after a popular uprising ousted President Blaise Compaore, who came to power in a bloody military coup and ruled the nation for nearly 30 years.
While November’s elections are said to be more inclusive than the last — allowing opposition parties to run that were previously denied participation — the violence and the pandemic have had officials scrambling to find ways to register citizens, in a country with a historically low voter turnout.
Featured image of a political rally in Burkina Faso. Photo/Sam Mednick/AP
Impact Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
‘Designer drug’ shows early neuroprotective signal in acute ischemic stroke
October 28, 2025
Medscape highlighted new trial results led by the University of Cincinnati's Eva Mistry that found an experimental drug shows promise in protecting injured brain cells for patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Is menstrual fluid ‘the most overlooked opportunity’ in women’s health?
October 27, 2025
The Guardian recently reported that period blood has long been thought of as ‘stinky and useless’, but startups are exploring using the fluid to test for a wide range of health conditions — including endometriosis.
What is squalane, and how does it work to moisturize skin?
October 27, 2025
The University of Cincinnati's Kelly Dobos was featured in a Women's Health article discussing squalane, an ingredient being increasingly used in moisturizing skincare products.