Burkina Faso’s junta leader Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba on Sunday agreed to step down, two days after military officers ousted him from power, reported The Africa News.
The resignation followed attacks on French institutions, after it was reported that Lt Col Damiba was hiding at a French military base. It is the second coup this year.
According to a statement issued by mediators on Sunday, Damiba offered his resignation in order to avoid confrontations with serious human and material consequences.
Influential religious and community leaders held mediation talks with Damiba and the new self-declared leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore, to resolve the crisis.
As per reports, Damiba set seven conditions before stepping down. The conditions included a guarantee of his security and rights, a guarantee of security for his allies in the military, and assurance that the leaders who come in power will respect the promise he gave to ECOWAS for a return to civilian rule within the next two years.
Traore officially was declared as head of state after he accepted the conditions given by Damiba, and appealed to Burkina Faso’s public to exercise calm, restraint and prayer.
Meanwhile, the African Union (AU) agreed with the regional group Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that the ousting of leader Lt Col Damiba was unconstitutional. The AU has demanded the return of constitutional order by July 2023 at the latest.
The West African bloc had earlier said it was inappropriate for army rebels to seize power when the country was inching slowly towards civilian rule.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the pro-Traore military said he would remain in charge “until the swearing-in of the president of Burkina Faso designated by the nation’s active forces” at an unspecified date.
As per reports, Burkina Faso’s ousted coup leader Lt. Col. Damiba left the country for Togo on Sunday.
