Burkina Faso’s new military leader has called for restraint from his compatriots who appear to be hostile to the West African regional grouping whose officials are due in Ouagadougou on Tuesday for talks over the transition to democracy.
Ecowas was among international organisations who had condemned Traore’s coup against his predecessor Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henry Damiba last weekend.
In a statement broadcast on national television Traore called on the population to trust the new authorities and not to disrupt the Ecowas mission at a time when some young people have erected barricades.
Shortly before 8pm, a handful of youths set up a checkpoint in front of the Laico Hotel in Ouaga 2000, on Avenue Pascal Zagre in a bid to “block the mission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)”.
Traore’s statement expressed regret over the action of the young people.
The statement warned: “Any person involved in acts likely to disrupt the smooth running of the ECOWAS mission will be subject to the full force of the law.”
Former transitional president, Lieutenant Colonel Sandaogo Damiba, was overthrown in a coup on September 30, 2022.
He subsequently resigned and handed power over to Captain Traore, who is now in control of the country’s current affairs, pending the appointment of a new president.
DS/ac/fss/as/APA