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Blaise Compaoré Steps Down as Burkina Faso President, Ceding to Protesters Blaise Compaoré Resigns as Burkina Faso’s President, and a General Assumes Power
(about 1 hour later)
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — Blaise Compaoré, president of the poor, landlocked nation Burkina Faso, announced Friday that he had resigned, forced from office by violent street protests and the burning of the Parliament building 27 years after he seized power as an army captain in a coup.OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — Blaise Compaoré, president of the poor, landlocked nation Burkina Faso, announced Friday that he had resigned, forced from office by violent street protests and the burning of the Parliament building 27 years after he seized power as an army captain in a coup.
The chaotic political demise of Mr. Compaoré, 63, who provoked a storm of dissent over manipulations to extend his rule indefinitely, closed the book on one of Africa’s most enduring rulers. His place was immediately taken by Gen. Honoré Nabéré Traoré, the chief of staff of Burkina Faso’s armed forces, who said at a news conference that he would “assume, as of this day, 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.”
With a mix of guile and charm, Mr. Compaoré, a onetime disciple of the Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi who was known as “handsome Blaise,” had built himself into a regional powerbroker. His influence far outweighed the strength his nation, where more than half the youthful population has known no other leader. Even as Mr. Compaoré's resignation was broadcast, there were reports that he was seeking to flee the country in a heavily-armed convoy.
The chaotic political demise of Mr. Compaoré, 63, who provoked a storm of dissent over manipulations to extend his rule indefinitely, closed the book on one of Africa’s most enduring rulers. He signaled few public regrets as he left.
“For my part, I believe, I have fulfilled my duty, my only concern being the higher interest of the nation,” he said in a resignation statement that called for elections within 90 days.
With a mix of guile, charm and impunity, Mr. Compaoré, a onetime disciple of the Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi who was known as “handsome Blaise,” had built himself into a regional power broker. His influence far outweighed the strength of his nation, where more than half the youthful population has known no other leader.
Events here were closely watched across West Africa and elsewhere, particularly in the handful of countries whose leaders are reported to be considering measures to extend their tenure. Some analysts said events in Burkina Faso may be taken as a warning of the perils of such action.Events here were closely watched across West Africa and elsewhere, particularly in the handful of countries whose leaders are reported to be considering measures to extend their tenure. Some analysts said events in Burkina Faso may be taken as a warning of the perils of such action.
Residents reported that a heavily armed convoy carrying the president was seen leaving the capital, Ouagadougou, and heading south toward Po, near the border with Ghana, even as his resignation announcement was read out on television. Residents reported that a convoy carrying the president was seen leaving the capital, Ouagadougou, and heading south toward Po, near the border with Ghana. Some reports said barricades had been thrown up to stop him.
There were reports, too, that residents of Po had barricaded roads to prevent him from fleeing. It was not immediately clear how popular General Traoré's declaration of power would be, since he is was regarded as close to Mr. Compaoré. Many protesters had said they favored the former defense minister, retired Gen. Kouame Lougué, to oversee a transition to new elections.
Gen. Honoré Nabéré Traoré, the chief of staff of Burkina Faso’s armed forces, said at a news conference that 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.”
Only hours earlier, the general had announced plans to form a transitional government leading to elections in a year’s time.
It was not immediately clear how popular General Traoré's action would be, since he was regarded as close to Mr. Compaoré. Many protesters had said they favored the former defense minister, retired Gen. Kouame Lougué, to oversee a transition to new elections.
The announcement from Mr. Compaoré came on the fourth day of turmoil in Ouagadougou, as military commanders met privately and demonstrators urged them to oust the president.The announcement from Mr. Compaoré came on the fourth day of turmoil in Ouagadougou, as military commanders met privately and demonstrators urged them to oust the president.
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. 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. At one point, General Traoré announced plans to form an interim authority leading to elections in a year’s time.
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.” Overnight, the president said he had “heard the message” from the protesters and understood “the strong desire for change” in this West African nation just below the Sahara whose name is translated as meaning the “Land of the Upright People.”
Mr. Compaoré also abandoned plans to change the Constitution so he could run for office again next year — the issue that had set off the protests. But he rejected calls for his immediate resignation.Mr. Compaoré also abandoned plans to change the Constitution so he could run for office again next year — the issue that had set off the protests. 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, opposition leaders urged their followers to “keep up the pressure,” rejecting the president’s blandishments and calling for his immediate ouster. 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.”
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. As huge crowds gathered in Ouagadougou, one army officer, who was not identified by name, signaled that the military had abandoned the president, telling the increasingly impatient protesters that the “army is henceforth at the side of the people.”
The protests sprang from a legislative proposal to remove term limits from the Constitution. They were first introduced in 2000, but, because of a legal technicality, were only applied to Mr. Compaoré in the 2005 elections, which he won. In 2010 he triumphed again, but he would have been ineligible to run in 2015 unless term limits were rescinded.The protests sprang from a legislative proposal to remove term limits from the Constitution. They were first introduced in 2000, but, because of a legal technicality, were only applied to Mr. Compaoré in the 2005 elections, which he won. In 2010 he triumphed again, but he would have been ineligible to run in 2015 unless term limits were rescinded.
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 the draft law.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 the draft law.
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 and carrying off cameras from the state television studios.
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.
In his statement late Thursday, Mr. Compaoré said that the government would remain “dissolved,” but that martial law would be “canceled.”
Mr. Compaoré's legacy is rooted in his dueling roles on the continent, both feeding conflicts in other nations and helping to resolve them.Mr. Compaoré's legacy is rooted in his dueling roles on the continent, both feeding conflicts in other nations and helping to resolve them.
During the civil war in Sierra Leone more than a decade ago, American officials accused Mr. Compaoré of fueling the violence by funneling arms to rebels and sending mercenaries to fight alongside them against United Nations peacekeepers – in exchange for diamonds.During the civil war in Sierra Leone more than a decade ago, American officials accused Mr. Compaoré of fueling the violence by funneling arms to rebels and sending mercenaries to fight alongside them against United Nations peacekeepers – in exchange for diamonds.
In 2000, a United Nations panel concluded that it was “highly likely” that arms had been brought into Burkina Faso and then shipped to fighters in Angola in breach of Security Council sanctions.In 2000, a United Nations panel concluded that it was “highly likely” that arms had been brought into Burkina Faso and then shipped to fighters in Angola in breach of Security Council sanctions.
But Mr. Compaoré has adopted the role of regional peacemaker as well. This year, the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, commended him for “his contribution to peace and stability in Mali,” including his help in striking an agreement for a cease-fire after the country was split in half by an insurgency.But Mr. Compaoré has adopted the role of regional peacemaker as well. This year, the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, commended him for “his contribution to peace and stability in Mali,” including his help in striking an agreement for a cease-fire after the country was split in half by an insurgency.
A few years before, the Security Council singled him out for “his critical role” in supporting the peace process in Ivory Coast.A few years before, the Security Council singled him out for “his critical role” in supporting the peace process in Ivory Coast.
He was only 36 years old when he seized power in a military coup that felled his former military colleague, Thomas Sankara, who has killed under circumstances that have never been disclosed. He was only 36 years old when he seized power in a military coup that felled his former military colleague, Thomas Sankara, who was killed under circumstances that have never been disclosed.
Mr. Compaoré was a student at the World Revolutionary Center in Libya run by Colonel Qaddafi, the longtime ruler and self-declared king of Africa, who himself was felled in a violent revolution three years ago.Mr. Compaoré was a student at the World Revolutionary Center in Libya run by Colonel Qaddafi, the longtime ruler and self-declared king of Africa, who himself was felled in a violent revolution three years ago.
Fellow alumni of Colonel Qaddafi’s school include the African warlords Charles Taylor of Liberia and Foday Sankoh of Sierra Leone, according to a 1999 book, “The Mask of Anarchy,” by Stephen Ellis of the African Studies Center in Leiden, the Netherlands.
Mr. Ellis described Colonel Qaddafi’s school as “the Harvard and Yale of a whole generation of African revolutionaries.”