The new military leader of Burkina Faso has promised a return to the normal Constitutional order “when the conditions are right”.
Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba led a mutiny that ousted President Roch MarcKaboré on Monday, January 24, 2022. He blamed the President for failing to contain the violence by Islamist militants. He made his first national speech since taking power on the eve of an emergency summit of West African leaders, called in response to the coup.
Burkina Faso is the third West African country to witness a military takeover after that of Guinea and Mali.
Trained by the US and France in warfare, the man behind the latest coup, Lt-Col Paul-Henri Damibashocked everybody with the way and manner he burst onto the political scene of Burkina Faso, by brushing aside the country’s Constitution and putting the President under House in the Presidential Villa. Lt-Col Damiba, 41 wearing a red beret and army fatigues in his first address to the country said he will return the country to constitutional rule when the conditions are right. This, he added, will be according to the deadline that the people define. He has agreed to meet representatives of various sections of society to agree on a roadmap for reform.
Alo, Burkina Faso needs international partners “more than ever” and called for support to exit the crisis soon.
Before seizing power, he had been at the forefront of the fight against Islamist militants and wrote a book on the topic in 2021.
He noted that the fight against jihadists would be his priority and promised to recapture rural areas, allowing the 1.5 million people who have fled their homes to return.
Holding the grand title of “President of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration”, Lt-Col Damiba becomes the third military ruler in West Africa along with Guinea’s charismatic Col.Mamady Doumbouya and Mali’s Col. Assimi Goïta, who is the youngest of the trio.
Recent developments of military takeovers in West Africa have become a major concern as they have repercussions on the rest of the Continent and the world.
Some Ghanaians have some thoughts to share.
In a move to press home the need to return to constitutional rule,the regional bloc ECOWAS has imposed sanctions and suspended Mali and Guinea following coups in August 2020 and September 2021. The 15-Member State has also condemned the Coup in Burkina Faso accusing the military of forcing President Kabore to resign “under threat, intimidation and pressure”.
Meanwhile, ECOWAS is meeting virtually to discuss the crisis.
Related Post:https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/general/coup-in-burkina-faso/2022/
