Burkina Faso military ruler, Ibrahim Traoré, has scrapped the country’s electoral commission, months after the transition period was extended by five years.

Citing its high cost, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Emile Zerbo, announced after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday the scrapping of the country’s Independent National Electoral Commission.

The Burkina Faso electoral commission, Mr Zerbo said, was subsidised with nearly half a billion CFA francs (around $870,000) each year, making it a budget-intensive organisation.

Stating that the ministry will handle election matters, Mr Zebro said the scrapping of the electoral commission reinforced “our sovereign control on the electoral process and at the same time limit foreign influences.”

This move extends Mr Traoré’s grip on power in Burkina Faso, three years after he came to power through a coup.

Since he assumed office, Mr Traorè has failed to plan for the country’s return to democratic rule.

The first transition to democracy move, scheduled for 2024, was cancelled and rescheduled for 2029, giving Mr Traoré another five years in power while he is qualified to contest the next presidential election.