Leader Of The Burkina Faso Junta, Damiba, Agrees to Resign – Mediators Reveal
Two days after military officials said he had been removed from power, Burkina Faso’s junta leader Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba agreed to resign on Sunday, according to religious and community leaders.
The religious and community leaders said in a statement that after mediation between Damiba and the new self-declared leader, Ibrahim Traore, “Damiba himself submitted his resignation in order to avert clashes with serious human and material consequences.”
A guarantee of security for his military allies, “a guarantee of his security and rights,” and that those presuming power must uphold the promise Damiba made to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for a return to civilian rule within two years are among the “seven conditions” he set for stepping down.
The important religious and community leaders in Burkina Faso claimed that Traore had agreed to the terms and “invite the populace to practice calm, restraint, and prayer.”
Tension in the landlocked West African nation has been at an all-time high since it was revealed on Friday that army troops had ousted Damiba, who had himself seized control in a coup in January.
Damiba had already stated his intention to remain in office.
Early on Sunday, security personnel used tear gas to disperse irate demonstrators outside the French embassy in Burkina Faso’s capital.
He will continue to be in control “until the swearing in of the president of Burkina Faso designated by the nation’s active forces,” according to a statement released on Sunday by the Pro-Traore military.
AFP
