ECOWAS “confident” after meeting Burkina Faso leader

A West African mission that went to assess Burkina Faso’s situation following the coup left Ouagadougou “confident” despite gatherings by demonstrators who criticised its visit.

The delegation on Tuesday met Capt Ibrahim Traoré, the military leader who on Friday overthrew Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba, who himself came to power in a coup in January.

They met at the Ouagadougou airport where dozens of demonstrators were calling for more Russian co-operation and chanting anti-France and anti-Ecowas slogans.

Former Niger president Mahamadou Issoufou, who was part of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) delegation as a mediator, said they would stand by Burkinabè people in the very difficult ordeal they were going through.

Over the weekend he had said the country was “on the brink of collapse”.

After initially opposing his removal from office, Lt Col Damiba agreed to resign on Sunday and left for Lomé, the capital of Togo.

The coups have been triggered by worsening insecurity amid frequent jihadist attacks.

Since 2015, Burkina Faso has been the target of regular attacks by armed groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

Thousands have died in the attacks and some two million people have been displaced.

Asaase Radio 99.5 broadcasts on radio via 99.5 in Accra, 98.5 in Kumasi, 99.7 in Tamale, 100.3 in Cape Coast and on our affiliates Bawku FM 101.5 in Bawku, Beats FM 99.9 in Bimbilla, Somua FM 89.9 in Gushegu, Stone City 90.7 in Ho, Mining City 89.5 in Tarkwa and Wale FM 106.9 in Walewale
Tune in or log on to broadcasts online: www.asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
Live streaming: facebook.com/asaaseradio99.5. Also on YouTube: Asaase Radio Official.
Join the conversation. Call: 020 000 9951 or 059 415 7777. Or WhatsApp: 020 000 0995.
#AsaaseRadio