In Burkina Faso, the putschist Ibrahim Traoré appointed president of the transition

Published on: 15/10/2022 – 11:36 Captain Ibrahim Traoré was formally appointed transitional president of Burkina Faso on Friday, two weeks after leading a coup and deposing Paul-Henri Damiba, author of a precedent coup in January. The result fell. Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who took power two weeks ago during a putsch in Burkina Faso, the second in eight months, was designated Friday, October 14 “unanimously” transitional president until an election presidential election scheduled for July 2024 in this country plagued by jihadist violence. Captain Traoré was appointed by national meetings bringing together some 300 representatives of the army and the police, customary and religious organizations, civil society, trade unions , parties and internally displaced victims of the jihadist attacks that have hit Burkina since 2015.>> Read also: “Coup d’Etat in Burkina Faso: the reasons for the fall of putschist Paul-Henri Damiba” young 34-year-old captain, who has chaired a junta called the Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration (MPSR) since September 30, signed Friday evening at the end of the work, a “Transition Charter” which makes him the close ident for the next 21 months. Article 5 of this charter stipulates that “the president of the MPSR performs the functions of president of the transition, head of state, supreme head of the National Armed Forces”. A member of the junta had previously indicated to AFP that this article had been adopted “unanimously”. in 2024. This article specifies that “the president of the transition is not eligible for the presidential, legislative and municipal elections which will be organized to end the transition”. Demonstration of support The charter maintains a government of 25 members and an Assembly legislative transition (ALT) of 71 unpaid members, apart from session allowances. Twenty of the members of the ALT will be appointed by President Traoré, 16 by the Security and Defense Forces (FDS), the others by the regions , parties po and civil society organizations. On January 24, soldiers led by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba and grouped within the MPSR overthrew President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, accused of incapacity in the face of jihadist attacks. which have multiplied in Burkina. They have not ceased in eight months and, faced with the constant deterioration of the situation, a new putsch took place on September 30, which brought Ibrahim Traoré to power, in order to “refocus the transition on security emergencies”, according to the junta.>> To read also: “Burkina, Guinea, Chad, Mali… Progress report on the democratic transitions in progress”Captain Traoré had assured that he would only send “current affairs” until the designation of a new civilian or military transitional president by “national assizes”. But since his coup, he has not ceased to benefit from the support of the street. Friday again , several hundred people have man protested near the Conference Center where the meetings were held, brandishing his portrait and shouting his name, others waving Russian, Burkinabè and Malian flags. In several French-speaking African countries, Moscow enjoys growing popular support while France, a former colonial power, is increasingly vilified there, especially in Mali, a neighboring country of Burkina also led by putschist soldiers since 2020. “Generational renewal” “We want Captain Traoré or nothing. The participants in the assizes must clearly understand this message and follow the choice of the people”, declared a demonstrator, Sayouba Ouedraogo. “We know exactly what we want” and “it is the confirmation of Captain Traoré as leader of the ‘State and President of Burkina Faso”, said Monique Yeli Kam, who represents the Movement for the Renaissance of Burkina (MRB, ex-opposition) at the assizes. According to her, he “embodies renewal, generational renewal, a break with old practices”. The French ambassador to Burkina Faso, Luc Hallade, had called on his compatriots “to limit” their movements on Friday “to what is strictly necessary”, “for fear of new protest movements”. France in Burkina, including the embassy and two French Institutes, were attacked by pro-Traoré demonstrators during the last putsch. Regular attacks by armed groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group ( EI) o nt has caused thousands of deaths and caused the displacement of some two million people since 2015. More than 40% of the territory escapes the control of the State, in particular on the side of the borders with Mali and Niger. Captain Traoré assured that Ouagadougou would continue to respect the commitments made under Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba vis-à-vis the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in particular on the organization of elections and the return of civilians in power no later than July 2024. With AFP and Reuters