Thousands gathered yesterday in the center of Burkina Faso’s capital to denounce what they called a military coup, two days after mass protests forced former Burkinabe president Blaise Compaore to resign.
Compaore’s 27 years in charge of the landlocked west African nation ended on Friday, after his bid to change the constitution to extend his rule was thwarted.
A power struggle ensued and on Saturday, Presidential Guard commander Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida was appointed transitional leader, superseding an earlier claim by the army chief of staff.
In Ouagadougou’s Place de La Nation, opposition leaders yesterday denounced what they described as a power grab to the crowds, while a UN official warned of possible sanctions if Zida obstructs a return to civilian rule.
The central square was the site of the violent demonstrations against Compaore, in which three people were killed and the parliament set ablaze.
Those gathered yesterday turned their anger against Zida, a man not well-known outside military circles whose trademark is a red beret.
One citizen carried a sign saying “Zida = Judas,” while another said “Zida — get out of here.”
“They are coming from Kossyam to enslave us,” said protester Sanou Eric, in a reference to the Presidential Palace. “This is a coup d’etat. Zida has come out of nowhere.”
“I am here to stop the army from stealing our victory,” protester Boubacar Sow said.
The head of the UN Office for West Africa 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 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,” Ibn Chambas said, adding that sanctions were a possibility if there was no progress.
Under Burkina Faso’s constitution, the head of the National Assembly should take office if the president resigns, with a mandate to organize elections within 90 days. However, the army has dissolved the legislature and suspended the constitution.
Events in Ouagaoudou are also being carefully followed by a generation of long-serving African leaders in Benin, the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo who are also butting up against constitutional term limits.
Compaore, who seized power in a 1987 coup, became a key ally of the US and colonial power France in operations against militant groups in west Africa.
Washington, which could freeze military cooperation with Burkina Faso if it deems a coup has taken place, has urged a power transfer to civilian rule as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, in Taipei, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said the government is paying close attention to the political turmoil in Burkina Faso.
The government remains in contact with authorities in Burkina Faso, one of the nation’s 22 diplomatic allies, the officials said.
The political upheaval in the country has not affected its diplomatic links with Taipei, they added.
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