Burkina Faso politicians meet to decide on transitional leader

Opposition leaders met on Thursday in Burkina Faso to establish ground rules for a transitional government and what they expect from its leader. The desperately poor West African country’s president of 27 years, Blaise Compaore, resigned last week amid mounting opposition to his bid to seek yet another term in office. Compaore never identified a potential successor and his departure created a power vacuum that the military has filled, at least temporarily. International envoys are pressing Burkina Faso to quickly designate a civilian leader for a transitional period until new elections can be held, and the African Union has threatened sanctions if that doesn’t happen soon.

It’s a decision for the people of Burkina Faso. They must be the ones to decide. Pain is still fresh in people’s mind.

Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama

Talks on Wednesday failed to designate a leader, but diplomats said some progress had been made: All sides have agreed that the transition should last one year and elections should be held in November 2015. “I believe that in days, rather than in weeks, we will be able to reach an agreement and install a transitional government,” said Ghana’s president, John Dramani Mahama. “I am certain that we will not reach the stage where the international community will have to impose sanctions.” Mahama, who currently chairs the regional bloc of West African states, known as ECOWAS, was mediating talks along with the presidents of Senegal and Nigeria. On Thursday, the opposition and other prominent leaders met to determine their criteria for a transitional leader and to describe how they would like the transitional period to proceed.

We do not want to talk with the old governing party. They represent Blaise Compaore.

Rose-Marie Compaore, parliamentary leader of the main opposition group, the Union for Progress and Change

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