Ukraine in Arabic | A new AU envoy to be appointed to Burkina Faso
KYIV/Ukraine in Arabic/ The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, today appointed Mr. Edem Kodjo, from Togo, as the AU Special Envoy for Burkina Faso after the AU's peace and security council gave the regime two weeks to return to civilian rule.
Kodjo's appointment “is part of the AU's efforts to facilitate the resolution of the crisis facing Burkina Faso”, Dlamini-Zuma said in a statement.
He will work to support “the rapid establishment of a civilian-led, democratic and consensual transition that would lead to the holding, at the earliest possible date, of free, fair and transparent elections”, Dlamini-Zuma added.
The army has stepped into a power vacuum left by Compaore, who was forced to resign last week in the wake of violent demonstrations over attempts to extend his 27-year-rule.
The military has promised to hand power to a “consensus” leader.
Kodjo, who served as Togo's prime minister 1994-1996, was also secretary general of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the AU's forerunner, from 1978-1983.
Burkina Faso has descended into turmoil soon after longstanding president Blaise Compaore proposed a constitutional amendment that would have allowed him to seek an extra term in office.
Ruling since 1987, Compaore was forced to step down on Friday and on Saturday there had been reports that he travelled with his family to the Ivory Coast.
On Saturday, the army named Isaac Zida, the second-in-command in the presidential guard under Compaore, as the new interim president of the country.
This move had, however, angered the opposition, which insisted that the ex-president left office as a result of a popular uprising, not a military coup.
