JohnButts@JBMedia - Reports:
Burkina Faso's army appointed a
military colonel as transitional leader on Saturday, it said, after the
West African country's president resigned from 27 years in office amid
violent protests against his continued power.
Lt. Col. Isaac
Yacouba Zida was unanimously appointed by the army to lead Burkina
Faso, the army said in a declaration. "The period of transition" and its
"form and duration will be determined later," said the declaration that
was drafted and signed after senior officers met with the joint chief
of staff Saturday.
Blaise Compaore resigned Friday after Yacouba Zida was unanimously appointed by the army to lead Burkina
Faso, the army said in a declaration. "The period of transition" and its
"form and duration will be determined later," said the declaration that
was drafted and signed after senior officers met with the joint chief
of staff Saturday.
protesters stormed parliament and set the building ablaze following two
days of violent demonstrations against his bid to amend the constitution
to stand next year for another term. His move left the impoverished
West African country in a state of uncertainty, and both Joint Chief of
Staff Gen. Honore Traore and Zida had made remarks that they were in
power.
Compaore, his family and those close to him had been taken
in by Ivory Coast, according to a statement from the office of President
Alassane Ouattara. It did not elaborate. It said Ouattara was following
events "with particular attention."
Earlier Saturday, Zida said
that the president's resignation amid violent street protests was an
"insurrection" and not a coup, and that Compaore and a top aide were
both safe.
"Starting today I
will assume all the responsibilities of this transition and of head of
state," he said in an announcement carried on radio early Saturday.
Zida was the second in command of the president's security will assume all the responsibilities of this transition and of head of
state," he said in an announcement carried on radio early Saturday.
regiment. Having been in Burkina Faso's ranks for more than two decades,
Zida is close to the president and appreciated by lower ranking
soldier.
Zida called on the
international community including the African Union to "support our
people during this difficult ordeal." He had announced that the
country's borders had been closed, a transitional committee had been set
up and the constitution had been suspended.
international community including the African Union to "support our
people during this difficult ordeal." He had announced that the
country's borders had been closed, a transitional committee had been set
up and the constitution had been suspended.
Gen.
Traore, the joint chief of staff, had on Friday told reporters that he
would assume the presidency until elections were called, so Lt. Col.
Zida's declaration Saturday caused initial confusion.
Over the Traore, the joint chief of staff, had on Friday told reporters that he
would assume the presidency until elections were called, so Lt. Col.
Zida's declaration Saturday caused initial confusion.
course of several dramatic hours, Compaore, 63, went from looking likely
to jam through parliament a bill that would let him seek a fifth term
to agreeing to step down next year to abandoning office immediately.
The
quick succession of events took many by surprise, since Compaore had
long out-maneuvered his adversaries and has in recent years become an
important regional mediator. Burkina Faso hosts French special forces
and serves as an important ally of both France and the United States in
the fight against Islamic militants in West Africa.
The United States called on Burkina Faso's military to follow
"the constitutionally mandated process for the transfer of power and
holding of democratic elections."
"We
condemn any attempts by the military or other parties to take advantage
of the situation for unconstitutional gain and call on all parties to
respect the people's support for the democratic process," State
Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.
condemn any attempts by the military or other parties to take advantage
of the situation for unconstitutional gain and call on all parties to
respect the people's support for the democratic process," State
Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.
Compaore
first came to power following the October 1987 coup against
then-President Thomas Sankara, Compaore's longtime friend and political
ally who was killed in the power grab.
first came to power following the October 1987 coup against
then-President Thomas Sankara, Compaore's longtime friend and political
ally who was killed in the power grab.
While
he was respected on the international stage, critics noted that, under
Compaore's semi-authoritarian rule, the country of 18 million people
remained mired in poverty. The landlocked country's fortunes rise and
fall with gold and cotton prices — and adequate rain in a region plagued
by drought.
he was respected on the international stage, critics noted that, under
Compaore's semi-authoritarian rule, the country of 18 million people
remained mired in poverty. The landlocked country's fortunes rise and
fall with gold and cotton prices — and adequate rain in a region plagued
by drought.
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