Security sources say the armed forces have been a casualty of Burkina's political turmoil.

For several years, Burkina Faso seemed immune to jihadist attacks - the result, according to some analysts, of a secret deal between the then president, Blaise Compaore, and militant groups.

As the jihadist attacks mounted from 2015, the security forces became overwhelmed, said Mahamoudou Savadogo, a Burkinabe researcher specialising in armed Islamism.

Exacerbating inter-communal tensions is a recurrent strategy of jihadist groups throughout the Sahel, according to a French security source.

The security crisis may deprive entire areas of the country from taking part in the vote, which could lead to a skewed or disputed result.