At least a thousand people gathered in a square in the centre of Burkina Faso’s capital yesterday to protest against the army taking over after President Blaise Compaore resigned.
His 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 transitional leader, trumping a claim by the chief of staff.
In Ouagadougou’s Place de La Nation, the site of this week’s mass protests, opposition leaders denounced the army’s power grab. One citizen carried a placard saying “Zida = Judas”.
A United Nations official yesterday joined the US 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 UN 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.
“If not, the consequences are pretty clear. We want to avoid having to impose sanctions on Burkina Faso.”
Under Burkina Faso’s constitution, the National Assembly head should take office if the president resigns. At least three people were killed in this week’s protests, during which the parliament building was stormed and set on fire.
Chambas was speaking on behalf of a tripartite group of mediators that included representatives of the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, after they met with 49-year-old Zida and top military brass.
They “assured us that they had well understood the message”, Chambas said.
The developments are being closely watched across a continent where several other veteran heads of state are also trying to cling to power. Zida vowed to work closely with civil society.
Opposition and activist leaders swiftly issued a statement warning the military against a power grab, demanding instead a “democratic and civilian transition”.
“The victory born from this popular uprising belongs to the people, and the task of managing the transition falls by right to the people. In no case can it be confiscated by the army,” they said.
They called a new mass rally in the capital yesterday at the site now nicknamed “Revolution Square”.
Zida, the second-in-command of the presidential guard, said he had assumed “the responsibilities of head of the transition and of head of state” to ensure a “smooth democratic transition”.
The transition will be carried out “together with the other components of national life”, he said, referring to the political opposition and civil leaders.
The army’s endorsement was signed by General Nabere Honore Traore, who initially said he would assume power, a claim Zida had dismissed as “obsolete”. “The aspirations for democratic change” of the Burkina youth “will be neither betrayed nor disappointed”, Zida said.
Speaking on television early on Saturday, the military officer also said the ousted president was “in a safe place” and his “safety and wellbeing are assured”.
In neighbouring Ivory Coast, the presidency confirmed reports that Compaore, who left Ouagadougou on Friday, was in the country. Ougadougou residents were gearing up for fresh protests.
“We are completely against soldiers taking power,” Salif Ouedraogo, a 38-year-old insurance agent, said on Saturday.
“We want a civilian as head of state and tomorrow we are going to regroup at Revolution Square to say no to military power, even if it means that there would be bloodshed.” — Reuters-AFP
More protests expected in Burkina Faso
His 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 transitional leader, trumping a claim by the chief of staff.
In Ouagadougou’s Place de La Nation, the site of this week’s mass protests, opposition leaders denounced the army’s power grab. One citizen carried a placard saying “Zida = Judas”.
A United Nations official yesterday joined the US 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 UN 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.
“If not, the consequences are pretty clear. We want to avoid having to impose sanctions on Burkina Faso.”
Under Burkina Faso’s constitution, the National Assembly head should take office if the president resigns. At least three people were killed in this week’s protests, during which the parliament building was stormed and set on fire.
Chambas was speaking on behalf of a tripartite group of mediators that included representatives of the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, after they met with 49-year-old Zida and top military brass.
They “assured us that they had well understood the message”, Chambas said.
The developments are being closely watched across a continent where several other veteran heads of state are also trying to cling to power. Zida vowed to work closely with civil society.
Opposition and activist leaders swiftly issued a statement warning the military against a power grab, demanding instead a “democratic and civilian transition”.
“The victory born from this popular uprising belongs to the people, and the task of managing the transition falls by right to the people. In no case can it be confiscated by the army,” they said.
They called a new mass rally in the capital yesterday at the site now nicknamed “Revolution Square”.
Zida, the second-in-command of the presidential guard, said he had assumed “the responsibilities of head of the transition and of head of state” to ensure a “smooth democratic transition”.
The transition will be carried out “together with the other components of national life”, he said, referring to the political opposition and civil leaders.
The army’s endorsement was signed by General Nabere Honore Traore, who initially said he would assume power, a claim Zida had dismissed as “obsolete”. “The aspirations for democratic change” of the Burkina youth “will be neither betrayed nor disappointed”, Zida said.
Speaking on television early on Saturday, the military officer also said the ousted president was “in a safe place” and his “safety and wellbeing are assured”.
In neighbouring Ivory Coast, the presidency confirmed reports that Compaore, who left Ouagadougou on Friday, was in the country. Ougadougou residents were gearing up for fresh protests.
“We are completely against soldiers taking power,” Salif Ouedraogo, a 38-year-old insurance agent, said on Saturday.
“We want a civilian as head of state and tomorrow we are going to regroup at Revolution Square to say no to military power, even if it means that there would be bloodshed.” — Reuters-AFP
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