Burkina Faso incumbent Kabore wins presidential election

Roch Marc Christian Kabore will serve another 5-year term as president of the West African nation of Burkina Faso, according to the election results.

President Kabore won 58% of the vote to remain as president of Burkina Faso, the National Independent Electoral Commission announced on Thursday.

Kabore, who became president of the west African nation in 2015, beat out 12 opponents in the first round, receiving 1.6 million out of 3 million votes cast.

The landslide victory removes the need for a runoff ballot, which his opponent were hoping for.

Many opposition figures decried the election as marred by bribery and irregularities, but independent commentators say the election was the most open for years. Because of unrest caused largely by jihadi insurgents from neighboring Mali, polling stations were unable to open in at least one fifth of the country.

The election took place on Sunday. Pro-Kabore candidates say that issues with polling stations affected all candidates equally.