Tag Archives: Burkina Faso

NFF confirms cancellation of Nigeria, Burkina Faso friendly.

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The Super Eagles’ second international friendly against Burkina Faso in London on Monday, has been called off after seven players in the Burkinabe contingent failed to secure entry visas into the United Kingdom.

The chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, Chris Green, told thenff.com in London: “We regret to announce that the second friendly match we had scheduled for the Super Eagles as part of preparations for the remaining matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying series and the beginning of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification race would no longer take place on Monday, 27th March 2017.

“The match in question is called off due to no fault of either the organizers or the Nigeria Football Federation. We will announce further plans for the Super Eagles’ preparation for these two important qualifying campaigns in due course.”

There is no British Embassy in Ouagadougou, and officials of the Federation Burkinabe de Football had been shuttling between Accra and Ouagadougou for visa processing.

FBF sources said the Embassy in Accra told them last week to proceed to Morocco (where the Etalons played the Atlas Lions on Friday) and that the visas would be issued there.

However, the applications were still pending at the British Embassy in Morocco as at close of work on Friday, the last working day before match day in London.

The Burkinabe Football Federation on Friday, by 7pm UK time, telephoned the match organisers to say some of their players and officials were unable to secure entry visas into the United Kingdom and therefore would not be able to honour the match.

NFF president and CAF Executive Committee member, Amaju Pinnick, who expressed disappointment with the cancellation, however said the objectives of satisfying the technical team’s desire of squaring up against tough, physical African opposition and fostering team bonding and organization were achieved.

“The Technical Adviser (Gernot Rohr) wanted to play very physical African teams, as part of the preparations for the World Cup qualifying matches against Cameroon, and we duly fulfilled that with the arrangements we made for Senegal and Burkina Faso.

“Unfortunately, some of the Burkinabe players could not secure entry visas into the UK. It is nobody’s fault. Our joy is that we were able to play Senegal and got a fair result with a depleted squad, and also the objectives of team bonding, team building, team discipline and further imparting the Technical Adviser’s philosophy to the group have been well served.

“The Technical Adviser has also been able to look at a few more options, and our strength-in-depth is looking very good.”

 

Source: The Guardian

12 soldiers killed in jihadist attack on Burkina Faso army

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Authorities say at least 12 soldiers are dead after dozens of Islamic extremists attacked an army barracks in northern Burkina Faso.

 

The jihadists stormed the barracks early on Friday in Nassoungou, a town near the Malian border that is about 260km from Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou.

 

The assailants also set fires to the premises, including tents and military vehicles, a security official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to journalists.

 

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

 

This West African country has seen a number of assaults since al-Qaeda-linked extremists attacked in Ouagadougou in January, killing 30 people.

 

Burkina Faso’s president was set to travel to Nigeria for a meeting on the Gambia crisis but has canceled his trip.

How Burkina Faso’s Different Religions Live In Peace

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The Pope has invited Burkina Faso’s president to the Vatican later this month to see what can be learnt from the West African nation’s example of religious tolerance. BBC Africa’s Lamine Konkobo is from Burkina Faso and assesses if this can continue in a region under assault from Islamist militant groups.

Religious tolerance has long been wired into the social fabric of my country, with many people drawing their faith from more than a single creed.

The Islam practised by many Burkinabe Muslims – who account for about 60% of the population – would be considered blasphemous by Salafists, as they include many animist practices.

My own father was not born a Muslim. He converted to Islam in the 1970s as a result of his business dealings with El Haj Omar Kanazoe, a rich trader from the Yarse sub-ethnic group known for their affiliation to Islam.

While my father chose to become a Muslim, setting his children up to follow in his footsteps, the rest of his family remained animist and my father could not disown them for that.

In the neighbourhood where he chose to set up his household, he was under the tutorship of his maternal uncle, a patriarch named Yandga who was the custodian of the village’s fetishes.

Anywhere my father looked, even if his new co-religionists urged him to hate, he could not have done so without losing his soul.

Like many others across the country, he had to adapt to the dynamics of society around him by accepting that Islam was not the only way.

As children, we grew up with people with differing religious beliefs – playing together, being told off by each other’s parents, celebrating each other’s festivals, mourning each other’s deaths, with humanity as the overriding connector common to all.

Read More: bbc

Osinbajo Hails ECOWAS Leaders For Ensuring Democratic Transition In Burkina Faso

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Osinbajo hails ECOWAS leaders for ensuring democratic transition in Burkina Faso
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has lauded the ability of ECOWAS leaders to ensure an authentic democratic transition in Burkina Faso after 30 years of military rule.

 

 

Osinbajo said this in an interview with newsmen after the inauguration of President Mr Rock Marc Christian Kabore of Burkina Faso at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Ouaga 2000 Stadium in Ouagadougou on Tuesday.

 
“I think it is a very great occasion. It is a wonderful day indeed for West Africa and indeed for Africa because after 30 years of military rule in one form or the other, we now have a transition to an authentic civil democracy, which is incredible indeed.

 

“And the fact that all these happened with the active collaboration of ECOWAS states without any outside interference, is a great thing indeed.

 

I think that in many senses, ECOWAS has come of age. It shows that ECOWAS is able to resolve its disputes and to advance its own causes.

 

This is excellent indeed. So it is a very wonderful day and I congratulate the President on this great occasion and of course the people of Burkina Faso, who stood their ground and insisted on democracy.’’

 

 

The vice president also acknowledged the key role President Muhammadu Buhari played in halting the coup d’etat, which took place in the country, saying the stand of the Nigerian leader had ensured the installation of an enduring democratic rule in the country.

 

 

“President Muhammadu Buhari, of course, was at the table and was probably one of the key persons, who brought about this.

 

As a matter of fact the Burkinabes agreed that he played such a significant role in enabling this to happen.

 

Even from the time of their elections we aided the electoral committee logistically and in various other ways and the President was firm about the issue of the coup.

 

He was very firm and of course you know that he was possibly one of the active negotiators in ensuring that the coup did not stand.

 

So our relationships will be much stronger. I think the Burkinabe people understand the role that we have played and are very appreciative.’’

 

 

Osinbajo, who represented Buhari at the inauguration, said that the ECOWAS sub-region had come of age democratically and that the people of Burkina Faso had proved to be genuinely interested in good governance.

 

“They have been courageous; they have fought to see this day and they deserve all the congratulations and all the commendation.

 

“I think the people did an excellent outing; they stood their ground; but for that we probably wouldn’t be here today.’’

 

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Kabore, who spoke in French, pledged to restore the past glory of the country and entrench transparency and promote democracy.

 

 

Kabore, who described the event as the beginning of “a new dawn”, pledged that liberty, equity, justice, and national reconciliation would be his watchwords.

 

 

(NAN)

President Buhari Congratulates Kabore On His Election As President Of Burkina Faso

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President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Mr Roch Marc Kabore of the Movement of People for Progress Party on his historic election as the second civilian President of Burkina Faso.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

The statement also quoted Buhari as expressing the hope that the successful conclusion of the electoral process would usher in a new era of true democracy and inclusive good governance in Burkina Faso.

The President, who appreciated the commitment of the people of Burkina Faso in ensuring peaceful election, urged them to continue to give the new leader the maximum support he needed to take the country to greater heights.

He also commended the outgoing transition President, Mr Michel Kafando, for his tenacity and determination in ensuring that the electoral process was concluded amicably in the face of daunting challenges.

He called on Kabore to use his famed democratic credentials and vast parliamentary experience to join hands with other contestants to work together for the peace, progress, prosperity and unity of Burkina Faso.

President Buhari also used the opportunity to call on fellow African leaders to continue to sustain the democratic principles sweeping across the continent.

He particularly commended the courage and perseverance of ECOWAS leaders for their support in ensuring that the transition and election processes were fully concluded.

He expressed optimism that the success of the Burkina Faso election would deepen the democratic processes in Africa and emphasise regional and continental integration.

President Buhari wished Kabore a successful tenure particularly in his service to the people of Burkina Faso and to the global community in general.

Roch Kabore Wins Burkina Faso Presidential Election

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Burkina Faso’s electoral body on Tuesday announced Roch Kabore as winner of the presidential election.

Provisional results from Sunday’s election showed Mr. Kabore winning 53.5 per cent of the votes to defeat former Finance Minister Zephirin Diabre, who scored 29.7 per cent, and 12 other candidates, the electoral commission said.

Turnout for the election was about 60 per cent, the outright majority means there would be no run-off.

“This election went off in calm and serenity, which shows the maturity of the people of Burkina Faso,” Barthelemy Kere, president of the electoral commission, told a news conference.

Crowds celebrated the news in the streets of the capital, Ouagadougou, honking car and motorbike horns.

The election of Kabore, the nation’s former prime minister, represented a pivotal moment for the West African nation.

The country had been ruled by leaders who came to power in coups for most of its history since independence from France in 1960.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Burkina Faso Army Enters Capital To Disarm Coup Leaders

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Burkina Faso soldiers marched into the capital Ouagadougou without resistance late on Monday as army leaders began surrender talks with the elite presidential guard that staged a coup against the government last week.

Burkina Faso had been preparing to head to polls on Oct. 11 for a vote aimed at restoring democracy after last year’s overthrow of longtime leader Blaise Compaore when the 1,200-member unit took the interim president and several cabinet ministers hostage on Wednesday.

Military convoys from regional centers drove towards the capital Ouagadougou on Monday, cheered along by residents opposed to last week’s military coup. Some units entered the city center while others remained on guard at strategic entry points, residents said.

Read More: newsweek

Burkina Faso coup: Gen Gilbert Diendere named new leader

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Gen. Gilbert Diendere, a close ally of former President Blaise Compaore has been named the new leader of Burkina Faso, state television reports.

He was also said to be the chief of staff to former President Blaise Compaore, who is currently in exile after he was ousted in a popular uprising last year after 27 years in power.

 Presidential guard officers in Burkina Faso seized power earlier today in a coup, with shooting reported in the capital, Ouagadougou.

The coup leaders have imposed a night-time curfew across the West African state, and have ordered the closure of land and air borders, AFP news agency reports.

 

The headquarters of Mr Compaore’s Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) party were ransacked in Ouagadougou as news of the coup spread, it adds.

French President Francois Hollande however condemned what he called a coup in the former French colony, while calling for the immediate release of interim President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Isaac Zida, who were detained at a cabinet meeting in the president palace on Wednesday.

The transitional government were due to hand power to a new government after elections on 11 October. Some of Mr Compaore’s key allies were however barred from contesting the election.

Coup In Burkina Faso As Military Dissolves Government

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The military in Burkina Faso has announced the dissolution of the country’s transitional government, a day after presidential guards arrested the interim president and prime minister.

President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Yacouba Zida were detained by soldiers who stormed an afternoon Cabinet meeting, plunging the poor West African country into chaos and uncertainty.

The coup comes days before the country’s first election since last year’s ouster of long-serving ruler, Blaise Compaore.

Mr. Compoare was deposed in a popular uprising in 2014.

Read More: premiumtimesng

Six Nigerian Girls Rescued From Prostitution In Burkina-Faso

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Six Nigerian women have been sent back to the country from the Burkina Faso where they were allegedly taken to for prostitution by a woman, named Balikis.
While re-uniting the girls with their parents in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday, the Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Oyo State Command, Innocent Akatu, said the girls were tricked to leave Nigeria, adding that the victims did not tell their parents about the journey.
Akatu said the girls refused to engage in prostitution in Ouagadougu, Burkina Fasso, and were locked in a room by the trafficker.

He added that their journey back home after three weeks began when one of them escaped and alerted the Burkinabe police. He said:
“The victims, after being smuggled to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, discovered that they were going to be used for prostitution. They were not even told that they were going to Burkina Faso. These girls were told that they would be given lucrative jobs abroad; one of them was told that she was going to manage a jewellery shop owned by her trafficker.
“One of them was taken from her home in Ikorodu, Lagos State, and driven to Saki in Oyo State. When she asked why it had taken them so long to reach the airport, she was told that the plane had left and that they would have to travel by road.
“The Nigerian embassy assisted in arranging emergency travelling documents for them to return to Nigeria after their lucky escape. We have taken them to the hospital for screening and they are HIV negative.”
One of the returnees, Ganiyat Samuel, said she lived with her grandmother in Ikorodu before she embarked on the journey.
She said, “A woman, called Balikis, came to me and said that I would make more money as a fashion designer if I travel outside Nigeria. I told her that I had no passport, but she said that she would take care of it. I did not tell any of my parents.
“When we got to Saki, she said she could not get a passport for me because the office had closed. We travelled for two days to get to Burkina Faso. She took me to her house and told me that I would have to do HIV test. The test revealed that I was pregnant, but HIV negative. She told me that she brought me to the country for prostitution and that I would have to abort the pregnancy. I refused and she locked me in a room. When she brought another Nigerian a week later, I helped the girl to escape and she alerted the police. The police rescued us and arrested the woman.”
Samuel’s mother, Olasunkanmi Afuwape, said her father had died and after she re-married, she took the girl and her brother to live with her mother in Ikorodu.
Culled from Punch

All Eyes On Malabo For AFCON 2015 Draws Today

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All eyes in Africa will be focussed on Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday as the capital of Malabo plays host to the draw for the Africa Cup of Nations just weeks after Morocco were stripped of the right to host the event.

The traditional ceremony to determine the group matchups for the January 17 to February 8 continental showpiece, was initially set for Rabat before Morocco asked for the tournament to be postponed because of the devastating Ebola outbreak which has cost nearly 7,000 lives in west Africa.

Morocco were instead not only stripped of the right to host the tournament but disqualified from the event as Equatorial Guinea, the third highest producer of petrol in Sub-Saharan Africa, stepped in at the final hour to save the day.

Equatorial Guinea, who co-hosted the 2012 event with Gabon, face a race against time to be ready with less than two months until kick-off, and the draw is set to unveil further indications of progress on preparations.

One aspect that hasn’t changed is the format with four groups of four teams drawn in a round-robin first round line-up shared between the cities of Malabo, Bata, Mongomo and Ebebiyin.

– Ivory Coast, Algeria the teams to avoid –

Ironically, Equatorial Guinea will be in the top seeded hat as hosts, just six months after the former Spanish colony were disqualified from qualifying after fielding an ineligible player during a preliminary round fixture against Mauritania.

They will joined, as one of the top four seeds, by four-time champions Ghana, 2012 African winners Zambia and the Ivory Coast.

The ‘Elephants’ of the Ivory Coast, who lost finals in 2006 and 2012 and also reached the semi-finals in 2008, remain a formidable force as the seedings were determined by previous CAN results.

Their glory teams of the past have undergone several changes in recent years as they turn to life without retired legend Didier Drogba and now lean on the coaching leadership of dashing Frenchman Herve Renard who led Zambia to their first title three years ago.

Manchester City’s Yaya Toure and Roma striker Gervinho are key players for the Ivory Coast with a strong cast of talent in place to support the 1992 champions.

Holders Nigeria and seven-time champions Egypt failed to qualify leaving Algeria the danger team from hat number two alongside 2013 finalists Burkina Faso, Mali and Tunisia.

The ‘Desert Foxes’ of Algeria reached the second round of the World Cup for the first time this year, and are chasing a second African title after their only success on home soil in 1990.

The country are enjoying a purple patch with top club ES Setif recently winning the African Champions League and the CAN providing a serious opportunity to increase their flourishing international reputation.

On paper, hat number four appears stronger than the third set of teams with former giants Senegal, Cameroon and Guinea joining the Congo while Cape Verde, South Africa, Gabon and Democratic Republic of Congo complete the 16-nation line-up in pot three.

Cameroon, now without former captain Samuel Eto’o, failed to qualify in 2012 and 2013 which dropped their ranking while Senegal have failed to get past the first round since 2006.

The ‘Indomitable Lions’ of Cameroon, won the last of their four African titles in 2002, when they defeated a Senegal team making their lone appearance in the championship match.

2015 CAN draw:

Pot 1: Equatorial Guinea (hosts), Ghana, Ivory Coast, Zambia

Pot 2: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Tunisia

Pot 3: Cape Verde, South Africa, Gabon, DR Congo

Pot 4: Cameroon, Senegal, Guinea, Congo

Source – kokomansion.com

Burkina Ex-president Compaore in Exile in Morocco, Says Ivory Coast Govt

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Burkina Faso’s longtime president Blaise Compaore, toppled by a popular uprising last month, has left his temporary refuge of Ivory Coast and headed into exile in Morocco, an Ivorian government spokesman said on Thursday.

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in Burkina Faso when Compaore, who originally seized power in a 1987 coup, tried to change the constitution through parliament to extend his 27-year grip on the West African state.

He fled to neighbouring Ivory Coast, where he was welcomed by President Alassane Ouattara, a close ally, and lodged in a state villa in the capital Yamoussoukro.

“Yes, he has decided to change locations. He has left for Morocco. He will always be welcome in Ivory Coast. Our doors are always open,” Ivorian government spokesman Bruno Kone told Reuters, without giving further details.

Burkina Faso’s military briefly took power after Compaore stepped down. A civilian interim president, Michel Kafando, was appointed this week to guide the country on the southern fringes of the Sahara desert to an election due next year.

Credit: Reuters

Burkina Faso set to Appoint Army’s Zida as Prime Minister

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Veteran diplomat Michel Kafando, just sworn in as Burkina Faso’s interim president to oversee a year-long transition to civilian rule, will on Wednesday appoint army strongman Lieutenant-Colonel Isaac Zida as prime minister, a senior officer has told AFP.

The deal has been agreed between politicians and army leaders, said the officer.

“We negotiated the post of prime minister. Everyone agrees,” said the officer, adding that the post of prime minister will “return to Lieutenant-Colonel Zida”.

“It was on this understanding that we gave the post of president … to civilians,” added the officer.

Zida was put in power in the immediate aftermath of the uprising against longtime-leader Blaise Compaore last month.

Kafando was sworn in on Tuesday and pledged he would not let the country become a “banana republic”.

The one-time foreign minister vowed to “respect and defend the constitution, the transition charter and laws and do everything to guarantee justice for all Burkinabes” as he took the oath at a televised ceremony in the capital Ouagadougou.

Poised to formally take over Friday from an interim military ruler, the 72-year-old emphasised his “humility” as a leader aware that he temporarily held “power that belongs to the people”.

“The constitution of a country holds the keys to the very organisation of the state. To change it too much leads to a breakdown in society, to regrettable upheavals such as we have recently known,” Kafando said.

Credit: Yahoo News

On Apostle of Peace, Goodluck Jonathan’s Peace Visit To Burkina Faso? By Frank Ijege

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After 27 years of being under his tight fist leadership, the people of Burfina Faso came out in large number to denounce and resist attempts by former president Blaise Compaore to elongate his tenure as president of one of the poorest country in Africa. This resistance by the people has brought an end to 27 years of mis -rule and bad governance and a clear message to everybody that true power reside in the people, if only they will exercise it.
With the fate that befell Blaise Compaore, who is practically a fugitive today, one expects that other sit-tight governments in Africa will be on the alert. The likes of Paul Biya, Idriss Deby, Yoweri Museveni, Jose Eduardo Santos, Todore Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Robert Mugabe and a host of others who have been in power for donkey years, would be jittery now. Burkina Faso seem to have initiated a revolution in West Africa, the kind that swept through North Africa few years ago, which saw the death of several protracted government like Hosni Murbarak of Egypt and Ben Ali of Tunisia. One hopes that other countries will follow suit, restoring the dignity of their battered constitutions, by ensuring that spirit and letter of these constitutions are followed without the frequent abuse they are subjected to.

 Suffice it to state that these revolution is not restricted to elongated governments alone. The people have also risen against governments that were perceived to be going against the interest of the generality of the people. An instance, is Mohammed Morsi of Egypt, who became president after the ouster of Mubarak. When they people discovered his was pursuing an agenda different from the aim of the revolution, they hit the street and he was sent packing. Therefore president or leader is safe, they people can decide to wield their ultimate power.

Nigeria as a country is not immune to a revolution. We tried it during the Occupy Nigeria protest. That protest would have laid a good foundation for a revolution that is to come, but the betray of some people thwarted that move. However, all hope is not lost. The way President Goodluck Jonathan has been handling the affairs of country, a revolution is closer than we think. When the revolution comes, all those who have plunged this country to the pit of underdevlopment, will be made to pay for the sins. Nobody will be spared.

In recent time, the onslaught by boko haram has been growing in leaps and bound. Fierce attacks and capture of town and cities, has been the order of the day. The recent one is the capture and subsequent renaming of Mubi; the capture of Vimtim, the home town of Alex Badeh, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff and so many other towns which fallen to the terrorists. Pictures of people escaping from the new islamic caliphate are everywhere. My friend spent days in the bush before he found he days out of Mubi. Boko Haram now has close to ten local governments under its control, and it is not relenting in its quest to capture more. Recent attacks in Yobe, Gombe and the Kotun Karfe prison in Kogi State, where it freed its members is a pointer to this fact.
The situation is the country is grave and one that calls for drastic measure by the Commander-in-Chief. Sadly, this Commander in Chief is known for abdicating on his primary responsibility to the people. For instance, when the Chibok girls were kidnapped, he didn’t believe they were actually kidnapped. The agitation by the international community woke him from his slumber. True to his nature, Mr. President has traveled to Burkina Faso as an apostle of peace, to broker peace while his country lies in ruin. At a time when Nigeria faces the greatest threat to its existence, one expects the president to be always at home busying himself on ways to find solutions and not globe trotting all in the name of brokering peace. Can you give what you don’t have? What if while trying to broker peace in Burkina Faso, boko haram overruns the whole of Nigeria?

Although I am not surprised with the president’s peace journey to Burkina Faso, because for Jonathan, it has been one blunder after another. I am however astonished and terrified by the passivity of Nigerians. When shall we as a people rise up in unity and demand accountability from those who masquerade as our leaders? We shall we give them the option to either secure our lives or resign honourably? When will Nigerians hit the streets and demand a change in their destiny and the destiny of the country. We cannot continue like this.

At the moment, the primary concern of President Goodluck Jonathan is redeeming his image abroad; that is why he is on a peace mission in Burkina Faso. We must as a people realise that Jonathan is not Nigeria. His personal successes will not translate into a Nigerian success. Nigerians must reclaim the image of Nigeria in the comity of nations. This passivity will not take us anywhere. I pray the revolution comes in my life time.
God bless Nigeria
Frank Ijege
frankijege@yahoo.com
@foijege

Articles on www.omojuwa.com are solely authors opinion

African Leaders Press Burkina Faso Army Give up Power

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African leaders were headed for Burkina Faso on Wednesday to pressure the army into keeping its promise to hand power back to civilians within a fortnight after the fall of president Blaise Compaore.

Isaac Zida, the interim leader appointed by Burkina Faso’s military, told unions on Tuesday that he would return the country to civilian rule, a day after the African Union threatened sanctions if the army did not give up power.

The presidents of Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal were due to arrive in Burkina Faso on Wednesday to press the issue, as Canada suspended its aid to the impoverished West African country and other nations considered similar moves.

In the aftermath of Compaore’s exit, the army’s decision to take over the reins of the country once again sparked angry protests at home and prompted threats of sanctions from the international community.

But the army has claimed that “power does not interest us” and pledged to install a unity government with a “broad consensus”. Zida has repeated the promise in meetings with opposition and civil society leaders as well as foreign envoys.

“If everyone agrees, there is no reason that the transition (from military rule) shouldn’t be done within two weeks,” Zida said on Tuesday, according to union leader Joseph Tiendrebeogo.

Mogho Naba, the “king” of Burkina Faso’s leading Mossi tribe, told AFP he had met Zida on Tuesday. “They came to tell us that they would hand back power to civilians,” he said. “The country should regain peace and quiet.”

The army has made similar pledges over the past couple of days, without taking concrete action so far. Under the constitution, which has been suspended, the parliament speaker was supposed to take over as transitional leader.

But the whereabouts of current speaker Soungalo Ouattara, a close ally of Compaore, are unknown.

Credit: Yahoo News

Burkina Faso Army Vows Denounce Power Grab

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Burkina Faso’s military vowed to install a unity government after tightening its control over the west African nation, firing tear gas and shots in the air to disperse protesters denouncing an army power grab.

 Troops moved into Place de la Nation in the capital Ouagadougou and took over the national television headquarters in a show of force, despite calls by the international community and protesters for a return to civilian rule.

Threatened with economic sanctions, the military pledged to put in place a transition government formed by “broad consensus”.

The army has stepped into the power vacuum left by president Blaise Compaore, who was forced to resign in the wake of violent street demonstrations over his 27-year-rule that some have likened to the Arab Spring.

But the military said it was acting only with the interests of the nation at heart and that “power does not interest us”.

“What is currently at stake is more than self interest,” it said in a statement issued after Isaac Zida — the man it named as interim chief — met opposition leaders.

UN envoy for West Africa Mohamed Ibn Chambas said he had joined African leaders in pressing the country’s military top brass to hand power back to civilians.

Read More: http://news.yahoo.com

If the army refuses, “the consequences are pretty clear”, he said. “We want to avoid having to impose sanctions on Burkina Faso.” There were similar calls from the United States and European Union.

Burkina Faso Appoints new Transitional Leader

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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” its “form and duration will be determined later” after talks with others in the country, said the declaration drafted and signed after senior officers met with the joint chief of staff Saturday.

Blaise Compaore resigned Friday after 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.

Read More: http://news.yahoo.com

President Blaise Compaore Resigns

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Burkina Faso’s President Blaise Compaore has announced his resignation, following violent protests at his attempt to extend his 27-year rule.

Mr Compaore issued a statement saying the presidency was now vacant.An army spokesman also broke the news to cheering demonstrators in the capital, Ouagadougou.

Following the protests, Mr Compaore said he had agreed not to seek another term, but that he would remain in power until a transitional government had completed its work in 2015.

However, the opposition continued to demand that he resign. Its leader, Zephirin Diabre, urged protesters to occupy public spaces.

There were cheers when the army spokesman told the crowd gathered in front of army headquarters on Friday that Mr Compaore had left office, AFP news agency reports.

Seen on: www.bbc.com

Protesters Gather Again in Burkina Faso

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Anti-government protesters began gathering in Burkina Faso’s capital again Friday, a day after their violent demonstrations pushed the country’s longtime president to agree to relinquish power next year.

In response to the chaos, a brief period of martial law was imposed during which the military announced the dissolution of parliament and promised an interim government that would include all parties. Compaore later said he would lead that transitional government until elections next year and then relinquish power.

But that concession may not be enough to satisfy the opposition in this West African country. Protesters were gathering again Friday morning in a central square in the capital, but few security forces could be seen.

It was not immediately clear if the protesters would press any new demands

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Burkina Faso Parliament set Ablaze

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Protesters angry at plans to allow Burkina Faso’s President Blaise Compaore to extend his 27-year-rule have set fire to parliament.

The BBC’s Laeila Adjovi in the capital, Ouagadougou, say the city hall and ruling party headquarters are also in flames. Earlier, the military reportedly fired at protesters who stormed parliament.

Parliament was due to consider changing the constitution so that Mr Compaore can run for office again next year. He first took power in a coup in 1987, and has won four disputed elections since then.

The opposition has called for a campaign of civil disobedience to demand that he steps down in next year’s elections.

State television has gone off air after protesters stormed the building housing it and ransacked it, Reuters news agency quotes a witness as saying.

Smoke could be seen billowing from parliament. Police had earlier fired tear gas to prevent protesters from moving in on the parliamentary building.

But about 1,500 people managed to breach the security cordon and were ransacking parliament, AFP news agency reports. Protesters were setting fire to documents and stealing computer equipment; cars outside the building are also on fire, it reports.

Seen on: http://www.bbc.com

Burkina Faso opposition rejects referendum plan, calls for protests

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Opposition parties in Burkina Faso accused President Blaise Compaore on Wednesday of preparing a “constitutional coup d’etat” and called for nationwide protests against moves to remove a two-term limit for the presidency.

 In power for over 27 years, Compaore has positioned himself as a senior regional mediator and his country is an important base for Western counter-terrorism operations in West Africa. However, the referendum plan has split his landlocked nation.

Opposition leader Zephirin Diabre urged people across Burkina Faso to close market stalls and walk out of private and public sector jobs on Oct. 28 to mark the beginning of a civil disobedience campaign to prevent a referendum being organized.

There were pockets of unrest in the capital Ouagadougou late on Tuesday after the government said it would submit a bill for parliament to call a referendum on constitutional changes to allow the president to stand for re-election next year.

The streets were calm on Wednesday.

There is concern that other leaders in West and Central Africa may be tempted to seek constitutional changes to prolong their mandates in the coming years, and events in Burkina Faso are being closely watched abroad.

Read More: http://news.yahoo.com