Burkina Faso’s President Michel Kafando said he and his government were back in power on Wednesday a week after a coup, though it was unclear who was really in charge after the rebellion’s leader attended a state function.
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The breakthrough came on Tuesday night after marathon talks in Nigeria’s Abuja, where West African heads of state had sought to break the impasse fuelled by angry threats on both sides.
The agreement signed early Wednesday says members of the presidential guard will return to their barracks while the government troops will withdraw 50 kilometers outside the city.
The presidential guard is loyal to Blaise Compaore, the country’s long-time ruler who was ousted in a popular uprising previous year.
ECOWAS commission chairman Kadre Desire Ouedraogo and United Nations representative Mohamed Ibn Chambas will travel with the leaders, said the spokeswoman for Diendere’s office, Yolande Kalwoule.
Kafando’s return caps a tumultuous week in Burkina Faso, where Diendere and his supporters seized power the month before an election.
Gen. Gilbert Diendere, the coup leader, instead said he would hand over power when requested by West African leaders of the regional body known as ECOWAS who met in Nigeria.
Soldiers yesterday fired warning shots to disperse a crowd of more than 100 people gathered in Independence Square in Ouagadougou to protest against the presidential guard, a witness said.
One week ago the 1 200-strong presidential guard took Kafando, interim Prime Minister Isaac Zida and two ministers captive.
The country’s election had been scheduled for October 11 before the recent developments.
The White House said Thursday that it “condemns in strongest terms the unconstitutional seizure of power” by the coup leaders.
It added: “The committee will ensure the reinstatement of transitional President H.E. Michel Kafando and convey the solidarity of ECOWAS to the Burkinabe people, thereby helping to defusing the prevailing tension and initiating inclusive national dialogue”.
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West African negotiators announced a plan Sunday to restore civilian authority but offer amnesty to the coup leaders. Lawmakers barred former members of the Compaore regime from seeking election – triggering the coup led by Diendere, a close Compaore ally.
