Don't Impose Sanctions on Burkina Faso, Says W. Africa Bloc
The West African regional bloc on Friday warned against sanctions on Burkina Faso after the country's president was ousted and the military took over.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said sanctions should not be imposed because of "the on-going regional efforts" and its continued support for the troubled nation.
Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore stepped down on October 31 after 27 years in power and fled after a popular uprising against plans to revise the constitution to allow him to run again for office.
Lieutenant-Colonel Isaac Zida, second in command of the presidential guard, took over and has pledged to return power to civilians within a year.
The ECOWAS call, after a meeting of heads of state and government in Accra, comes after the African Union on Wednesday gave Burkina Faso two weeks for the transition or face sanctions.
Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama, the current ECOWAS chairman, was in Ouagadougou this week with his counterparts from Nigeria and Senegal to mediate in talks for an interim leader.
Delegates at the Accra meeting expressed their "deep appreciation" for Zida and the military "for demonstrating professionalism in maintaining security, law and order" and their "positive role" in trying to find a transitional administration.
Member states were committed to the preservation of democratic institutions in Burkina Faso, including elections, they added in a statement.
Senegal's Macky Sall will head a "contact group" to assist in talks for an interim civilian administration while a special envoy would be appointed to work with all sides in the discussions, it added.
Source: Agence France Presse
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