According to the new head of the junta in Burkina Faso, elections will still be held by 2024 or possibly sooner.
Capt. Ibrahim Traore’s power grab is the latest setback for the ECOWAS regional bloc, which has attempted to nudge three of its 15 member nations back toward democracy following a wave of coups in West Africa over the past two years.
The most recent coup in Burkina Faso, which was broadcast on state television on Friday, has stoked concerns that the nation’s political unrest may lead to additional violence from Islamic extremists in the area.
Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, the deposed leader, and ECOWAS had agreed to organize a fresh election by July 2024.
Damiba, who had earlier this year himself been the victim of a coup, announced his resignation on Sunday and departed for the country of Togo.
The goal of holding elections by July 2024 is still feasible, according to Traore, who spoke with Radio France Internationale and whose interview aired on Monday.
“We hope that the return to normal constitutional order will take place even before that date if the situation allows it,” he told RFI.
Trip was postponed
According to local media, an ECOWAS delegation’s visit was moved from Monday to Tuesday.
The last democratically elected leader of Burkina Faso was deposed by Damiba in January as a result of anger about the failure of his administration to halt terrorist assaults.
Damiba’s term in office is now over due to the extremist bloodshed, which has claimed thousands of lives and driven 2 million people to evacuate their homes.
Over the weekend, the new leader informed journalists that the situation for soldiers in the field was still dire. He claimed Damiba had not done enough to change that.
“I go on patrol with my men and we don’t have the basic logistics,” he told Voice of America. “In some villages, the trees don’t have leaves because people eat the leaves.
They eat weeds. We’ve proposed solutions that will enable us to protect these people, but we are not listened to.”
In a video recorded after Damiba’s resignation Sunday, the ousted leader said the coup had left at least two people dead and nine wounded.
“In view of the risks of division within our army, and considering the higher interest of Burkina Faso, I have renounced my function as the head of state and president of the transition,” he said.
As neighboring Mali has done with Russia’s Wagner Group, Traore’s supporters have recently waved Russian flags and requested military aid to battle the jihadis.
However, those Russian mercenary forces have been charged with violating human rights, and some people worry that their participation in Burkina Faso might make matters worse.
It is still unclear whether Traore and his forces will be able to resolve the problem as international criticism of the latest attempt grows.
