Burkina Faso junta considering two-and-half years as transitional period

OUAGADOUGOU— The military junta in Burkina Faso wants to stay in office for two-and-half years to prepare the country for a return to democracy, a government commission has proposed.

The proposal comes at a time the Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba junta is under pressure from the regional bloc, ECOWAS, to present a transitional plan.

The commission also recommended the establishment of a small government and legislative body – with a maximum of 20 and 50 members respectively.

Burkina Faso joins Mali and Guinea, as West African countries that have been suspended by ECOWAS and the AU following military takeovers.

Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba is the leader of the junta that overthrew President Christian Roch Marc Kabore.

Until his ‘rise’ to the position of coup leader, Damiba’s last held post as a Lieutenant Colonel of the army was head of security for the capital, Ouagadougou (the country’s third security region).

He had only been handed that post in December 2021 by outgone President Kabore in a move analysts said was to retain support of the military at the time.

From Ouagadougou security chief, Damiba was announced on Monday evening as leader of the junta known as “Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration, or MPSR.”

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK