Burkina Faso on Saturday froze the assets of the leader of a failed coup and began to disarm the presidential guard that took the president and prime minister hostage just weeks before elections meant to mark a return to democracy. “The adoption of this decree dissolves the RSP”, according to minutes from the meeting seen by AFP.
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The country is in transition following 27 years of iron-fisted rule by Blaise Compaore, who was ousted as president last October and fled the country.
“Justice will be served after the conclusion of these investigations”, Zida said.
The established commission of inquiry has a maximum period of 30 days to submit its report and is created to “determine responsibility, identify the perpetrators, accomplices, soldiers and civilians involved in the coup”. They were unhappy about being integrated into the regular army.
Interim President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac Zida were arrested by the elite presidential guard on September 16, following which Gen. Gilbert Diendere took power.
Diendere has said he regretted the coup.
“Also in that statement, President Buhari urged the people of Burkina Faso to remain calm and steadfast in support of the transitional order, elections and democratic governance with the full assurance that Nigeria, ECOWAS and the worldwide community will uphold their right to peace, freedom, democracy and good governance”.
Eleven people were killed and more than 200 wounded in clashes between anti-coup protestors and the presidential guard.
As the deadline expired, the ex-spy chief Diendere held a press conference, saying he was still in charge and that he was awaiting the outcome of a ECOWAS summit in Abuja, Nigeria, where African leaders were discussing developments in Burkina Faso. No power can do anything against a determined people. However the proposal, which included an amnesty for the coup leaders, was swiftly rejected by civil society and opposition politicians.
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Earlier, the Ghanaian government, represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Hanna Serwah Tetteh had issued a statement condemning last Thursday’s coup.
