Burkina Faso’s crisis reduces democratic expectations- Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has described the development in Burkina Faso as far below the democratic expectations, noting that efforts being made so far were to correct the deficiency.

This is even as Senegalese President Macky Sall proposed amnesty for the coup plotters, which he said will enhance national cohesion for the common good of the country.

He however said the suggestion for the amnesty was not aimed at encouraging impunity but to guarantee peace and unity of the country. He also called on ECOWAS to provide $1 million to support the families of the affected victims of the crisis. At the time of filling in this report it is not clear if the ECOWAS will approve Sall’s proposal for amnesty.

The summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at a one day summit on how best to find amicable resolution of the political stalemate in Burkina Faso, at its opening session resolved that the elections earlier scheduled for October 11 be shifted to November, 21.

The idea, it said was to among other things allow for a cool of frayed nerves and pave the way for a free, fair and credible elections. It was also resolved at the meeting which held in Abuja, that the interim leader, Michel Kafando and Prime Minister, Isaac Zida be restated immediately and unconditionally. All actions on the dissolution of the Presidential Guard be put on hold and status quo be maintained, the summit declared at its opening session in Abuja.

The transitional government of Burkina Faso was last Thursday dissolved after an overthrow led by the country’s Regiment of Presidential Security one month ahead of general elections, setting off a political crisis.

In his remarks, Nigeria’s President notes that recent developments in our sister country Burkina Faso has run contrary to expectations and the efforts so far deployed towards the restoration of constitutional order and democracy by ECOWAS, the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN) and our international development partners.

According to him commitment of the transitional administration of Michel Kafando to the implementation of the programme mandate of the transitional charter has equally been commended by the international community.

“Our meeting today, (yesterday) provides the opportunity to review the developments and for the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of States/Governments as well as the President of the ECOWAS Commission to brief the summit on their consultations, while in Quagadougou” Buhari said.

He commended the Presidents of Senegal, and his counterpart from Benin Republic, Boni Yayi and President of ECOWAS Commission, who undertook the visit to Quagadougou last week to commence the process of engagement with the military junta, expressing delight that there were reports of some measure of understanding reached towards the resolution of the crisis.

The meeting, spearheaded by Nigeria’s President Buhari follows a a visits by a delegation from the Economic Community of West States (ECOWAS) to the country, Thursday, last week.

 

Elizabeth Archibong