Burkina Faso is bracing for another day of mass protests as opposition and civil society leaders challenged moves by the military to step into the power vacuum left by the ouster of President Blaise Compaore. The military named a high-ranking officer, Isaac Zida, to lead the countrys transition yesterday, a day after Compaore was forced to resign as plans to extend his 27-year rule exploded into violent demonstrations that saw parliament set ablaze. Some have drawn parallels with the Arab Spring, with the developments closely watched across a continent where several other veteran heads of state are also trying to cling to power. Zida, who beat out a rival claim by the landlocked west African nations army chief to lead the transitional government, vowed to work closely with civil society. But opposition and activist leaders swiftly issued a statement warning the military against a power grab, demanding instead a democratic and civilian transition.The victory born from this popular uprising belongs to the people, and the task of managing the transition falls by right to the people. In no case can it be confiscated by the army, they said in a statement.They called a new mass rally in the capital Ouagadougou at the site now nicknamed Revolution Square where up to a million people had gathered earlier this week to demand Compaores resignation. The call appeared to have the backing of the African Union, which urged a civilian-led and consensual transition through free elections in the former French colony.Zida, the second in command of the presidential guard, said he had assumed the responsibilities of head of the transition and of head of state to ensure a smooth democratic transition.The transition will be carried out together with the other components of national life, he said, referring to the political opposition and civil leaders.The armys endorsement was signed by General Nabere Honore Traore, who initially said he would himself assume power, a claim Zida had dismissed as obsolete.The aspirations for democratic change of the Burkina youth will be neither betrayed, nor disappointed, said Zida, 49.Speaking on television early on Saturday, the military officer also said the ousted president was in a safe place and his safety and well-being are assured. In neighbouring Ivory Coast the presidency confirmed reports that Compaore, who left Ouagadougou on Friday according to French diplomats, was in the country.A local resident said he saw a motorcade of around 30 cars heading for a luxury hotel in the Ivorian capital, which is also used as a semi-official residence for foreign dignitaries.Opposition figures have said around 30 people were killed in Thursdays violence. Compaore was only 36 when he seized power in a 1987 coup in which his former friend Thomas Sankara was ousted and assassinated.His bid to hold on to power particularly angered young people in a country where 60% of the population of almost 17 million is under 25.Many have grown up under the leadership of one man and are disillusioned by the establishment that has led a country which is languishing at 181st out of 187 countries on the UN human development index.Known in colonial times as Upper Volta, the country won independence from France in 1960 and its name was changed to Burkina Faso (the land of upright men) in 1984.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Nov 2014 09:25:57 +0000