The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Blaise Compaore

  • Burkina court rescinds warrant against Compaore

    A court of appeals in Burkina Faso has rescinded a series of international arrest warrants, including those against deposed leader Blaise Compaore and neighbouring Ivory Coast’s parliament speaker, a senior court official said on Thursday.

    A military tribunal in Burkina Faso investigating the murder of former President Thomas Sankara nearly three decades ago as well as a failed coup that took place last September had issued a total of 18 international warrants in December and January.

    However, the appeals court public prosecutor, Armand Ouedraogo, said the tribunal had failed to follow proper procedure when issuing the warrants.

    “The military court can take these warrants back and correct them,” Ouedraogo said.

    Sankara, an African folk hero, disappeared and is believed to have been killed during the 1987 coup that brought Compaore to power.

    Compaore himself was ousted in 2014 by crowds opposing his bid to change the West African nation’s constitution and extend his 27-year rule, Reuters reported.

    Ivory Coast granted him citizenship and he currently resides there.

    Members of an elite unit loyal to Compaore attempted a coup against the transitional government that replaced him in September, but the putsch was put down by the regular army.

     

  • Burkina Faso ex-president in Morocco

    Burkina Faso ex-president in Morocco

    Burkina Faso’s longtime president Blaise Compaore, toppled by a popular uprising last month, has left his temporary refuge of Ivory Coast and headed into exile in Morocco, an Ivorian government spokesman said on Thursday.

    Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in Burkina Faso when Compaore, who originally seized power in a 1987 coup, tried to change the constitution through parliament to extend his 27-year grip on the West African state.

    He fled to neighbouring Ivory Coast, where he was welcomed by President Alassane Ouattara, a close ally, and lodged in a state villa in the capital Yamoussoukro, Reuters reports.

    “Yes, he has decided to change locations. He has left for Morocco. He will always be welcome in Ivory Coast. Our doors are always open,” Ivorian government spokesman, Bruno Kone, told Reuters, without giving further details.

    Burkina Faso’s military briefly took power after Compaore stepped down. A civilian interim president, Michel Kafando, was appointed this week to guide the country on the southern fringes of the Sahara desert to an election due next year.

  • Army officer takes charge in Burkina Faso

    … Compaore arrives Ivory Coast

    An officer in Burkina Faso’s presidential guard seized power on Saturday promising to lead the West African country to elections after the resignation of longtime President Blaise Compaore, in an apparent putsch against the military chief of staff.

    Compaore stepped down on Friday after two days of mass protests against his attempts to change the constitution to extend his 27-year rule. At least three people were killed after protesters stormed the parliament building and set it on fire.

    Army chief of staff, Gen. Honore Traore, a Compaore loyalist, had quickly announced on Friday he would take over the presidency on a transitional basis, but this was rejected by the demonstrators and a number of junior officers, Reuters reports.

    After reports of heavy gunfire near the presidential palace early on Saturday, Lt. Col. Issaac Zida, the operational commander of the elite presidential guard, announced on radio that he was taking power.

    “I assume from today the responsibilities of head of this transition and head of state,” Zida said, dressed in military fatigues, in the studio of BF1 television.

    “I salute the memory of the martyrs of this uprising and bow to the sacrifices made by our people.”

    The unfolding crisis was being closely watched by the United States and former colonial power France, which were close military allies of Compaore. Under his rule, Burkina Faso became a key ally in Western operations against al Qaeda-linked groups in West Africa.

    Meanwhile, Compaore has arrived in neighbouring Ivory Coast, Ivorian military sources told Reuters on Saturday.

    The sources, who asked not to be identified, said that Compaore was in Assinie, a beach resort to the east of the economic capital Abidjan.

    “He’s been in Assinie since this morning,” said one of the sources. “He is not alone. Some members of his family are with him.”

  • Burkina Faso president resigns

    Burkina Faso president resigns

    Burkina Faso’s President, Blaise Compaore, has announced his resignation, following violent protests at his attempt to extend his 27-year rule, the BBC Reports.

    Mr. Compaore issued a statement saying the presidency was now vacant and urging elections within 90 days.

    Military chief, Gen. Honore Traore, said he had taken over as head of state “in line with constitutional measures.”

    On Thursday, protesters angry at Mr. Compaore’s attempt to amend the constitution set fire to parliament.

    Following the protests, Mr. Compaore said he had agreed not to seek another term, but that he would remain in power until a transitional government had completed its work in 2015.

    However, the opposition continued to demand that he resign. Its leader, Zephirin Diabre, urged protesters to occupy public spaces.

    There were cheers when an army spokesman told the crowd gathered in front of army headquarters on Friday that Mr. Compaore had left office, AFP news agency reports.

    Mr. Compaore’s statement, read on television, said: “In order to preserve the democratic gains, as well as social peace, I declare a power vacuum to allow the establishment of a transition leading to free and fair elections within a maximum of 90 days.”

    He added: “For my part, I think I have fulfilled my duty.”

    The BBC reports that his whereabouts now remain unclear.

     

  • Burkina Faso president ‘to stay on’

    Burkina Faso president ‘to stay on’

    Burkina Faso’s President, Blaise Compaore, said he will stay in power for a year under a transitional government, following a day of violent protests demanding his resignation.

    The President said he was withdrawing a controversial law which would enable him to seek another term in office when his current term ends in 2015.

    On Thursday, protesters angered by his bid to extend his 27-year rule torched parliament and government buildings, the BBC reports.

    They want him to resign immediately.

    The creation of a transitional government was announced on Thursday by army chief, Gen. Honore Traore, who said it would “be put in place in consultation with all parties.”

    He also declared the dissolution of parliament.

    “A return to the constitutional order is expected in no more than 12 months,” he added, but gave no further details.

    In a TV address later on Thursday, Mr. Compaore refused to step down but said he would hand over power once the transitional government had completed its 12-month term.

    He also said he was lifting a “state of siege” he had declared earlier.

    United Nations chief, Ban Ki-moon’s special envoy for West Africa, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, will fly to Burkina Faso on Friday to try to ease the crisis, the UN said.