Protests HIT Burkina Faso After Army Takeover

The army takeover in Burkina Faso after President Blaise Compaore’s resignation has prompted protests in the capital and international condemnation.

Thousands of people gathered in a square in the centre of Ouagadougou on Sunday to denounce the army’s power grab.

Gunfire was also heard at the state television headquarters in the capital, according to a report from the Reuters news agency. The shots were fired into the air as Sara Sereme, the leader of opposition party PDC, arrived in the area with a throng of supporters.

Compaore’s 27 years in charge of the landlocked West African country ended on Friday following two days of violent protests against his bid to change the constitution to extend his rule.

A power struggle ensued and on Saturday Presidential Guard commander Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida was appointed as transitional leader, trumping a claim by the chief of staff.

A UN official on Sunday joined the United States and the African Union in rejecting the army’s seizure of power but expressed cautious optimism about a return to civilian rule.

“We are hoping for a transition led by civilians in line with the constitution,” Mohammed Ibn Chambas, head of the United Nations Office for West Africa, said.

“He [Zida] said he will reflect and try to work with the UN, African Union and the Economic Community of West African States and to find an acceptable agreement which conforms to the constitution,” he said.

Under Burkina Faso’s constitution, the head of the National Assembly should take office if the president resigns.

In a statement issued by military leaders after meeting to appoint Zida to power, they said the form and duration of the transition would be decided in consultation with all sections of society.

-Aljazeera

Posted by Kunda on November 2, 2014. Filed under AFRICA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.