Artillery Captain Ibrahim Traore, who led last September's military coup in Burkina Faso, was sworn in Friday as transitional president. Burkina 24 news portal broadcast the ceremony live in the capital, Ouagadougou.
Traore, in an army uniform, was sworn in by members of Burkina Faso's Constitutional Council. "My main task as president is to take back the entire country from the terrorists," Traore said after taking office as head of state. - "This requires the mobilization of all the social forces of the nation. I want to assure you that I will do everything in my power to defeat the terrorists and to bring peace back to Burkina Faso." Traore stressed that all international obligations of Burkina Faso to its partners will be fully met.
The swearing-in ceremony for the new president of the country took place at the Constitutional Council building. The inauguration was attended by about 60 people representing the main classes of Burkina Faso society. The heads of embassies and foreign missions were not invited, Burkina 24 noted.
A military group led by Traore staged a coup d'état in Burkina Faso on September 30, ousting Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba as president of the country. The military, which seized power, announced the dissolution of the government, the suspension of the constitution and all political activity. Damiba, who himself came to power in January this year in a coup d'état, signed a document on October 2 voluntarily resigning as president. Explaining the reason for Damiba's ouster, Traore said that he had not devoted enough time and energy to organizing work to completely defeat the terrorist groups operating on Burkina Faso's territory.
On October 14, the National Assembly of Burkina Faso, convened by the military, unanimously appointed Traore as transitional president. At the same time, the National Assembly adopted a transitional charter and reinstated the Constitution in those parts that did not contradict the charter. The Constitutional Council issued its decision last Wednesday recognizing the legality of Traoré's appointment as Transitional President. The transitional period is to end in Burkina Faso before July 1, 2024, with free presidential elections.
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Photo: Rita Willaert/Creative Commons 2.0
Based on materials from TASS