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Blaise Compaoré Steps Down as Burkina Faso President, Ceding to Protesters Blaise Compaoré Steps Down as Burkina Faso President, Ceding to Protesters
(about 1 hour later)
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — After violent protests in which demonstrators set fire to Parliament and surged through the streets in a wave of dissent, Blaise Compaoré, the president of Burkina Faso, said Friday that he had stepped down after 27 years in office, according to news reports from the West African nation. OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — After violent protests in which demonstrators set fire to Parliament and surged through the streets in a wave of dissent, Blaise Compaoré, the president of Burkina Faso, announced Friday that he had stepped down, forced from office 27 years after he seized power as an army captain in a coup.
Reuters reported that a heavily armed convoy carrying the president was seen leaving the capital and heading south toward Po, near the border with Ghana, even as his resignation announcement was being read out on television. It was not clear who would replace him. Residents reported that a heavily armed convoy carrying the president was seen leaving the capital and heading south toward Po, near the border with Ghana, even as his resignation announcement was being read out on television.
The announcement came on the fourth day of turmoil in Ouagadougou, the capital, which culminated in a closed-door gathering of military commanders. Gen. Honoré Nabéré Traoré, the chief of staff of Burkina Faso’s armed forces, said at a news conference that, having taken note of the president’s resignation, he would “assume the responsibilities of head of state.” He said he was acting to fill the power vacuum left by the president’s departure and to “save the life of the nation."
Mr. Compaoré had offered negotiations on a transitional government leading to the election of a successor. But opposition leaders urged their followers on Friday to “keep up the pressure,” rejecting his blandishments and calling for his immediate ouster — “pure and simple.” Only hours earlier, the general had announced plans to form a transitional government leading to elections in a year’s time. Events here were closely watched across the region.
Earlier on Friday, huge crowds gathered in Ouagadougou, where senior army officers met to decide their next step. One officer, who was not identified by name, told protesters that the “army is henceforth at the side of the people.” The announcement from Mr. Compaoré came on the fourth day of turmoil in Ouagadougou, the capital, as military commanders met behind closed doors and demonstrators urged them to oust the president.
News agencies quoted an announcement from the president as saying he had stepped down in face of the protests and calling for elections within 90 days. His departure was the culmination of 24 hours of frantic maneuvering. Mr. Compaoré declared martial law for a few hours on Thursday, then seemed to relent, offering negotiations on a transitional government and rescinding his martial law decree.
Overnight, the president said he had “heard the message” from the protesters and understood “the strong desire for change.” Overnight, the president said he had “heard the message” from the protesters in the capital of this impoverished West African nation and understood “the strong desire for change.”
In a televised statement late Thursday, Mr. Compaoré rescinded a declaration of martial law, made only hours earlier, and offered negotiations on “a transitional period at the end of which I will hand over power to the democratically elected president.” Mr. Compaoré also abandoned plans to change the Constitution so he could run for office again next year — the issue that the protests. But he rejected calls for his immediate resignation.
He also abandoned plans to change the Constitution in order to run for office again next year — the issue that has ignited days of protest. But he rejected calls for his immediate resignation. On Friday, opposition leaders urged their followers to “keep up the pressure,” rejecting the president’s blandishments and calling for his immediate ouster — “pure and simple.” Thirty-four opposition groups also said the “precondition for any discussion of a political transition is the unconditional departure, pure and simple, of Mr. Blaise Compaoré.”
On Friday, protesters in the capital of this impoverished West African nation urged the military to sweep Mr. Compaoré from office. Demonstrators looted at least two banks and ransacked many stores, residents said. As huge crowds gathered in Ouagadougou, one army officer, who was not identified by name, signaled that the military had abandoned the president, telling protesters that the “army is henceforth at the side of the people.” The demonstrators urged the military to sweep Mr. Compaoré from office.
Opposition politicians appealed to their followers to “keep up the pressure by systematically occupying the public space.” Opposition to the president’s plans for another term had been building for weeks. Anger exploded Thursday as protesters stormed the Parliament building, bursting past police lines to prevent lawmakers from voting on a draft law that would have allowed Mr. Compaoré to run again next year.
Rejecting Mr. Compaoré's offer of talks, 34 opposition groups also said the “precondition for any discussion of a political transition is the unconditional departure, pure and simple, of Mr. Blaise Compaoré.”
Opposition to the president’s plans for another term had been building for weeks.
Anger exploded Thursday as protesters stormed the Parliament building, bursting past police lines to prevent lawmakers from voting on a draft law that would have allowed Mr. Compaoré to run again next year.
Thousands rampaged through Ouagadougou, burning the homes of presidential aides and relatives and looting state broadcasting facilities. Social media sites showed images of demonstrators toppling a statue of Mr. Compaoré.Thousands rampaged through Ouagadougou, burning the homes of presidential aides and relatives and looting state broadcasting facilities. Social media sites showed images of demonstrators toppling a statue of Mr. Compaoré.
The violence set off a series of decrees from the embattled president, who declared martial law, permitting the military to suspend both the Parliament and the government, and to inaugurate a 12-month transition to elections under an interim government.The violence set off a series of decrees from the embattled president, who declared martial law, permitting the military to suspend both the Parliament and the government, and to inaugurate a 12-month transition to elections under an interim government.
Opposition leaders called his actions a coup.Opposition leaders called his actions a coup.
In his statement late Thursday, Mr. Compaoré, a former army officer who seized power in a coup in 1987 and ranks among Africa’s longest-serving leaders, said that the government would remain “dissolved,” but that martial law would be “canceled.” In his statement late Thursday, Mr. Compaoré, a former army officer who ranks among Africa’s longest-serving leaders, said that the government would remain “dissolved,” but that martial law would be “canceled.”