At least 1,000 people have gathered in a square in the centre of Burkina Faso’s capital to protest against the army taking over after president Blaise Compaore’s resignation.
Compaore’s 27 years in charge of the landlocked West African country ended on Friday following two days of violent protests against his bid to change the constitution to extend his rule.
A power struggle ensued and on Saturday presidential guard commander Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida was appointed as transitional leader, trumping a claim by the chief of staff.
In Ouagadougou’s Place de La Nation, opposition leaders denounced the army’s power grab. One citizen carried a placard saying “Zida = Judas”.
At least three people were killed at the same site earlier this week when mass protests broke out and the parliament building was stormed and set on fire.
A UN official Sunday joined the United States and the African Union in rejecting the army’s seizure of power but expressed cautious optimism about a return to civilian rule.
“We are hoping for a transition led by civilians in line with the constitution,” said Mohammed Ibn Chambas, head of the United Nations Office for West Africa.
“[Zida] said he will reflect and try to work with the UN, African Union and the Economic Community of West African States and to find an acceptable agreement which conforms to the constitution,” he said.
The US State Department has called on the military to hand over power to civilian authorities amid the power vacuum.
“The United States condemns the Burkinabe military’s attempt to impose its will on the people of Burkina Faso,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement on Saturday.
Under Burkina Faso’s constitution, the head of the National Assembly should take office if the president resigns.
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