Burkina Faso appoints new transitional leader

A declaration signed by the joint chief of staff on Saturday appointed Lt. Col. Isaac Yacouba Zida as the country’s new President during the transitional period.

November 01, 2014 09:02 am | Updated November 16, 2021 07:12 pm IST - OUAGADOUGOU

Burkina Faso Lt. Col. Issac Yacouba Zida pauses as he makes an announcement to the media in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on Saturday.

Burkina Faso Lt. Col. Issac Yacouba Zida pauses as he makes an announcement to the media in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on Saturday.

Burkina Faso’s Army has appointed a transitional leader after violent protests drove the President from power after 27 years.

A declaration signed by the joint chief of staff on Saturday appointed Lt. Col. Isaac Yacouba Zida as the country’s new President during the transitional period.

According to the declaration “The period of transition” its “form and duration will be determined later” after talks.

Blaise Compaore resigned on Friday after two days of violent demonstrations against the president’s bid to amend the constitution to stand next year for another term.

Compaore and his family are now in Ivory Coast.

Earlier in the day, Lt. Col. Zida said he was taking over as head of state, in an apparent putsch against the military chief of staff Honore Traore, who had earlier said he would lead a transition.

Lt. Col. Zida's statement, broadcast on Radio Omega FM , came after a resident living near the presidential palace in Ouagadougou reported hearing several minutes of heavy gunfire in the early hours of Saturday.

"I assume from today the responsibilities of head of this transition and of head of state," Lt. Col Zida said in his statement.

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