West Africa bloc to discuss Burkina Faso crisis Friday

The West African bloc ECOWAS will meet virtually on Friday to discuss the crisis in Burkina Faso, where army officers have ousted President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, the group said.

The Economic Community of the West African States, which includes Burkina Faso, had already condemned Monday’s revolt, which came amid deepening anger over Kabore’s response to a jihadist insurgency.

The extraordinary summit on Burkina Faso will start at 1000 GMT on Friday and be held virtually, ECOWAS said in a note on Wednesday.

A source in Kabore’s party said earlier that the ousted president “is physically well” and was being held by the army in a villa.

Three of ECOWAS’ 15 members have now experienced military coups in less than 18 months.

In August 2020, army officers ousted Mali’s elected president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who had likewise been facing protests over his handling of the country’s jihadist crisis.

Guinea underwent a coup in September last year when officers toppled President Alpha Conde, 83, who had been president since 2010.

Both Guinea and Mali have been suspended from ECOWAS, and the bloc has imposed an array of sanctions against those countries.

AFP