Today, polling stations in Burkina Faso opened their doors for voters to cast their ballots in a presidential election dominated by militant violence.
The violence has claimed the lives of more than 2,000 people this year.
The current president of the country, Roche Kabore, is seeking to win a second term that will last for five years. In his campaign, he promoted the achievements he made in his first term.
However, the continuous attacks by groups linked to Al Qaeda and ISIS overwhelmed everything else, according to Reuters.
Three weeks after his inauguration, Al Qaeda attacked a hotel and coffee shop in the capital Ouagadougou, killing 32 people. They also made an ambush for a group of miners in the east of the country last year, killing 39.
Kabore faces fierce competition from former Finance Minister Zeferin Diabre, and Eddie Compuego, the party candidate for former President Blaise Compaore, who ruled the country for 27 years and was ousted in 2014.
Analysts expect that there will be a convergence between the contenders in the presidential race, which may require a second round if no candidate manages to win with more than 50 per cent, according to Reuters.
The preliminary results of the first round are expected to be announced during the current week.
The election commission said that polling stations will stay closed in most parts of the north and east of the country, to avoid any violence.
Official data stated that at least 400,000 people, or nearly seven per cent of the electorate, will not be able to vote.
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