Burkina Faso opens a national meeting on Friday to appoint a transitional president, two weeks after the second coup in eight months brought to power Captain Ibrahim Traore, whose supporters want him to be appointed, despite his stated desire not to be.
The meetings will bring together representatives of the army and police, customary and religious organizations, civil society, trade unions, parties, and internally displaced victims of the jihadist attacks that have hit Burkina since 2015.
According to the chairman of their organizing committee, Colonel Major Célestin Compaoré, their objective “is to examine and adopt the transitional charter, designate a transitional president in accordance with the charter, and collect any proposals for the smooth running of the transition.”
Officially appointed president shortly after taking power, Captain Traoré said he would only carry out “current affairs” until a new civilian or military transitional president was appointed through a “national conference.
