Burkina Faso: General Says ‘Coup Is Over, Let’s Move On’
By MISNA
“The coup is over. Carrying out this coup was a waste of time and resources, and I assume full responsibility”, said General Gilbert Dienderé, leader of the junta of the Presidential Security Regiment, just a few hours after the interim President Michel Kafando and transitional government were reinstated in office.
“Our action was motivated by a series of reasons, which we announced during the coup, but we understood the people were not in favour of it. That is why we have given up, and now we know it is time to move ahead, toward peace and the stability of the nation”, added the General.
“What is important is that we avoided an armed confrontation, but there were however victims. I a ready to respond for what happened before justice”, explained the coup leader, dressed in the uniform of the Presidential Security Regiment (RSP) that carried out the coup.
Based on the latest update, the September 17 coup resulted in 15 dead and around a hundred dead in clashes between the RSP and demonstrators opposed to the coup.
In response to questions on the dissolution of the RSP, Dienderé responded: “It is not up to me to decide, but we have received guarantees in this sense and we will discuss this matter when the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) return. My men are for the moment in military barracks and have abandoned all previously occupied posts. The disarmament modalities will in any case be decided by the military commanders over the next days”.
The fate of the RSP (which ahead of the coup the reforms commission suggested should be dissolved) is among the pending issues in the accord mediated by the ECOWAS, as well as a request for amnesty by the coup leaders. Another unresolved issue remains that of the participation of candidates of the Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) of former president Blaise Compaoré in the next elections.
