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Inside World : presidents press Burkina Faso on civilian rule
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — Diplomats pressing Burkina Faso's military ruler to return the country to civilian rule said Wednesday they are seeking names of people who could serve as interim head of state until elections are held.
The announcement came after the presidents of Nigeria, Senegal and Ghana arrived in Burkina Faso for talks. The African Union has given the military a two-week deadline to hand over power or face sanctions that could cripple the landlocked, desperately poor country.
"We appreciate the solidarity of regional leaders who must help us find consensus, whatever the formula we are going to adopt for the transition," Zephirin Diabre leader of the political opposition, told The Associated Press.
Burkina Faso's president of 27 years stepped down Friday amid mounting opposition to his bid to seek yet another term in office. Compaore never identified a potential successor and his departure has created a power vacuum in which at least three people have tried to take over control of the country in the past week.
According to the country's constitution, the speaker of the parliament should be the one in charge until elections can be held, according to Roch Marc Christian Kabore, leader of an opposition political party.
Burkina Faso's military, however, has designated Lt. Col. Isaac Yacouba Zida as the transitional leader following the departure of longtime president Blaise Compaore. The international community is ramping up pressure to try to avoid prolonged martial rule or further unrest in Burkina Faso, a country of relative stability in a volatile region marked by coups and power grabs.
On Wednesday, Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan, Senegal's President Macky Sall and Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama arrived to continue the discussions.
Photo: AP Burkina Faso Lt. Col. Issac Yacouba Zida, center, leaves a government building after meeting with political leaders in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. International envoys tried Tuesday to resolve Burkina Faso's political crisis, with the specter of a power vacuum looming after the country's longtime president fled last week.
Photo: APBurkina Faso Lt. Col. Issac Yacouba Zida, center, shakes the hand of Mossi emperor Mogho Naaba, leader of the Mossi tribe and the largest ethnicity in the country, in the city of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. International envoys tried Tuesday to resolve Burkina Faso's political crisis, with the specter of a power vacuum looming after the country's longtime president fled last week.
