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Traore chosen as Burkina Faso interim President until 2024

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
14 Oct 2022 23:34
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Burkina transition delegates agree to keep the junta leader Ibrahim Traore as interim President until the next presidential elections in 2024.

Traore chosen as Burkina Faso's interim President until 2024

Transition talks were held on Friday in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso's capital, after the African nation's latest coup which saw the ousting of Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba.

Political parties, social and religious delegates, and representatives of the security forces adopted by acclamation Article 5 of the Charter, which concerns the appointment of the President, and agreed that "the President of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration (MPSR) performs the functions of President of the Transition, Chief of the State, Supreme Head of the National Armed Forces."

This article ensures that Ibrahim Traore, the leader of the junta, remains the head of the state, although he has outwardly said he does not want the job.

Traore ousted Damiba on October 2 after the latter was accused of carrying out France's colonial legacy on the western African country as he failed to end the Jihadist attacks, which have seen several civilians and military men killed.

This is the country's second military coup in eight months, with Damiba only assuming power in January after outsing former President Rock Kabore via a coup of his own in light of growing frustration over the state of the country's security.

Traore vowed that Ouagadougou would continue to respect the commitments made under Damiba to ECOWAS, in particular the organization of elections and a return of civilians to power by July 2024 at the latest in the former French colony.

It is noteworthy that relations between Burkina Faso and France have been deteriorating in light of its failure to contain terrorist groups and activities across the country. France has previously occupied the country and ruled it with an iron fist while still intervening in its internal affairs to this day, ruining the lives of many.

Last week, security forces fired harmful tear gas at protesters outside the French embassy in Ouagadougou. Supporters of Burkina Faso's newest coup gathered outside the embassy one day after Traore accused Damiba of hiding in a French base, plotting a "counteroffensive".