Abidjan – West Africa’s bloc ECOWAS said a mission to Burkina Faso on Thursday had been scrapped after its junta-led authorities adopted a “charter” on how the country planned to return to civilian rule.
In a statement, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it had planned to send a high-level delegation to Ouagadougou on Thursday.
The mission which had not been publicly announced would have been led by the bloc’s current chairman, Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, flanked by President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger.
But, ECOWAS said, the visit “has been cancelled after the adoption of the transition charter” a document which sets down a three-year timetable before Burkina Faso stages elections.
ALSO READ | Burkina Faso junta chief orders three-year transition before elections
The statement gave no further explanation, although the three-year timetable compares with previous ECOWAS demands that a “reasonable” deadline be set.
A junta-established technical commission that drew up a draft of the charter had proposed a 30-month deadline.
But the final document signed on Tuesday by the country’s strongman, Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, sets down a 36-month timetable.
Damiba was ceremonially inaugurated as president on Wednesday.
A career soldier with the rank of lieutenant-colonel Damiba led mutinous soldiers on January 24 to oust elected president Roch Marc Christian Kabore, who was facing anger for his handling of a jihadist insurgency.
ALSO READ | Burkina Faso junta-created panel proposes 30-month transition
ECOWAS in its statement also said it was “very concerned” about Kabore’s continued house arrest and issued a new call for his “immediate” release.
The impoverished landlocked Sahel country has known little stability since it gained independence from France in 1960.
Yet it is just one of a string of countries in West Africa to undergo a recent coup, reinforcing the region’s reputation for volatility.
Mali, in August 2020, and Guinea, in September 2021, have also experienced a military takeover.
All three countries have been suspended from ECOWAS activities.
But so far, Burkina has escaped tough trade and other sanctions meted out against Mali and Guinea for stalling on their plans to return to democratic rule.
ALSO READ | Burkina Faso junta chief declared president
In a separate development on Thursday, ECOWAS and the United Nations issued a joint statement to say they were “especially concerned” about the lack of a timetable for returning to democratic rule in Guinea.
They urged the junta to draw up an “acceptable timetable” as soon as possible.
The Guinean army deposed elected president Alpha Conde following months of brewing discontent.
Coup leader Colonel Mamady Doumbouya — who was later declared interim president has promised to restore civilian rule but has so far refused to commit to a date, in defiance of international pressure to do so.
Thursday’s call followed a visit from a joint ECOWAS-UN delegation to Guinea this week for talks with the junta.
On Tuesday, an influential Guinean democracy group warned it would organise mass protests unless the junta cedes power swiftly.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Source: AFP
Picture: Getty Images
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
