- Burkina Faso’s junta leader, Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, had sworn in as president on Wednesday
- The junta has seized the power after a coup a month ago
- The ceremony held at the constitutional court was in camera.
Damiba seized power promising to secure the war-torn country from growing violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group fighters. The ongoing turbulence has taken a heavy toll on people and properties and has killed thousands and displaced more than 1.5 million people.
The administration of oath of office of the president was televised. Damiba. He swore before the constitutional authority that he would preserve, respect, uphold and defend the Constitution. The event was opened to the local press. No foreign press representatives were invited for the function.
On January 24, Damiba, 41, led disgruntled officers to force out Kabore following public anger over his handling of a bloody jihadist insurgency. The Constitutional Council recently determined that Damiba would be president, head of state and supreme commander of the armed forces. Damiba had an interaction with security forces, civil society, diplomats and politicians before taking over the mantle of president. Significantly, he has not set a timeline for a return to democracy. The international community is putting pressure on the military junta to hand over the rule to an elected government at the bearliest. It is to be seen how the military junta would heed to these directions. Experiences in other African countries are not very conducive for such a smooth passover of the rule. The junta usually extends the rule citing one reason or the other.
