The head of the African Union (AU) Commission, Chadian Moussa Faki Mahamat, on Saturday condemned “the unconstitutional change of government” in Burkina Faso following the military coup that ousted Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba from power.
• Also read: Burkina Faso: Events since the coup in January
• Also read: Burkina: Second coup in eight months, junta chief ousted
“The President calls on the military to immediately and completely cease any acts of violence or threats to civilians, public liberties and human rights,” the AU said in a brief statement.
Finally, the chairman of the AU Commission calls for “strict compliance with the election deadlines for a return to the constitutional order by July 1, 2024 at the latest”.
After a day of gunfire in the capital, Ouagadougou, a group of soldiers appeared on Burkinabe television to announce the sacking of Colonel Damiba, who was replaced at the junta’s head by a 34-year-old captain, Ibrahim Traoré.
The new junta suspended the constitution and dissolved the government and assembly without deciding on the transition timeline, which was the subject of an agreement with ECOWAS to see a return to civilian power in July 2024.