OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso
Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba (pictured) has been inaugurated as Burkina Faso’s president, just over three weeks after he led a coup that overthrew democratically elected Roch Marc Christian Kabore.
In a televised ceremony on Wednesday, Damiba took
an oath before the country’s top constitutional body to “preserve, respect,
uphold and defend the constitution”, the nation’s laws and a “fundamental act”
of key decisions approved by the military.
Damiba was dressed in camouflage uniform and a red
beret, and wore a sash in the colours of Burkina Faso’s national flag.
The ceremony in a small room at the offices of the
Constitutional Council in the capital, Ouagadougou, was not attended by any
foreign representatives.
Kabore was elected in 2015 following a popular
revolt that forced out longtime ruler Blaise Compaore. He was re-elected in
2020, but the following year faced a wave of anger over the mounting toll from
an increasingly bloody conflict that has spilled over from neighbouring Mali.
The fighting has killed thousands of people and
forced millions from their homes across West Africa’s portion of the Sahel
region in the face of attacks by armed groups affiliated with ISIL (ISIS) and
al-Qaeda. This year, nearly
15 million people in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger will need
humanitarian assistance, four million more than in 2021, according to the
United Nations.
On January 24, Damiba, 41, led disgruntled officers
to force out Kabore amid public anger over his handling of the worsening
security situation.
Last week, the Constitutional Council formally
determined that Damiba was president, head of state and supreme commander of
the armed forces.
The move confirmed an announcement by the military
on January 31 that Damiba would be appointed to those roles for a transitional
period, and be assisted by two vice presidents.
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