Burkina Faso military council ‘dissolves’ political institutions: TV

Members of Burkina Faso’s presidential guard — who have taken the president and government leaders hostage — announced Thursday they had “dissolved” the country’s political institutions and vowed to organise “inclusive elections”.

Lieutenant-Colonel Mamadou Bamba appeared on national television to declare a new “National Democratic Council” had put an end “to the deviant regime of transition” in the west African state and Burkina’s interim president had been stripped of his powers.

“The National Transition Council has been… dissolved… Wide-ranging talks are being held to form a government… to lead to inclusive and peaceful elections,” he added.

UN, EU demand release

The European Union on Thursday condemned the detention of Burkina Faso’s interim president and prime minister by the presidential guard as a threat to upcoming elections and demanded their immediate release.

“The EU calls for the immediate release of those detained and respect for the political transition and the national interest,” EU foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini said in a statement.

“Developments in Burkina Faso with the detention of the president and other ministers puts in peril the (political) transition and the path towards October 11 elections,” Mogherini said.

She said the 28-nation EU stood with the United Nations and the African Union in condemning events in the capital Ouagadougou.

Earlier on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced outrage after the leaders’ detention and demanded their immediate release.

“This incident is a flagrant violation of Burkina Faso’s constitution and transitional charter,” Ban said in a statement.

Security forces linked to ex-leader Blaise Compaore burst into a cabinet meeting room and seized President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Isaac Zida as well as two ministers, the parliament speaker said in a statement sent to AFP.

UN envoy for west Africa Mohamed Ibn Chambas was in the capital Ouagadougou, holding talks with African governments to press for a return to the transitional regime.

Uprising

Poverty-stricken Burkina Faso has been ruled by a transitional government since a popular uprising in October 2014 ousted president Compaore, in office for 27 years and who wanted another term.

Members of the Presidential Security Regiment (RSP) set up by Compaore seized President Faso Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Isaac Zida from a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Compaore’s supporters are banned from standing in the upcoming elections under a controversial election law passed in April which made anyone who supported “unconstitutional change” ineligible to run.

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