The presidents of Nigeria and Ghana are in Burkina Faso to press the army to cede power to civilians after its takeover last week.
Ghana’s John Dramani Mahama, chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, and Nigeria’s Goodluck Jonathan arrived in Ouagadougou, the capital, today to join mediation efforts. The African Union yesterday labelled the military’s takeover a coup, and reiterated a demand for army chiefs to step down within two weeks or face sanctions.
The army took charge of the country last week as President Blaise Compaore, who had held the office for 27 years, was ousted amid protests against his efforts to extend his rule. Lt. Col. Isaac Zida, the transitional leader, told religious chiefs yesterday that he will step down and have power to civilians.
Burkina Faso has been used by the U.S. and France as a hub to fight Islamist militants. It’s sub-Saharan Africa’s second-largest producer of cotton, the mostly agricultural economy’s main crop, and the fifth-largest gold miner, as well as being one of the world’s poorest countries.
Protests persisted after Compaore’s departure, switching their target to the selection of an army officer, Zida, as his successor. Zida has met with foreign diplomats and religious leaders in recent days to reduce concern.
Compaore, 63, was himself an army officer before he seized power in a coup in 1987. The opposition has called for Saran Sereme, head of the Party for Democracy and Change, to succeed him as president.
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