General Gilbert Diendere, the leader of Burkina Faso’s short-lived coup, was in police custody on Thursday after handing himself in, a security source told AFP.
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Earlier, Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac Zida had said the government had provided guarantees to the embassy that Diendere’s life would be respected if he was handed over. I would like the people of Burkina Faso to find a solution to this crisis through dialogue. “All parties must talk to find an inclusive solution for the future of the country”.
On Tuesday evening, Diendere had urged his officers to surrender their weapons to authorities, and reiterated he was ready to face justice. Under a peace deal, the presidential guard was supposed to disarm but they refused.
He had taken refuge at the residence of the Vatican’s representative in the country on Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the matter just prior to an army raid near the barracks of the RSP, crack troops loyal to ousted former president Blaise Compaore.
Interim President Michel Kafando was reinstated last week after intervention from the army and West African leaders.
He had sought sanctuary in the embassy in the recent days after the transitional government – tasked with guiding Burkina Faso to elections this month – was returned to power amid global pressure and popular protests.
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Separately, the first full meeting of the government since Mr Kafando’s reinstatement made a decision to disband the presidential guard (RSP) and to dismiss the minister in charge of security. It asked citizens to be tolerant toward former presidential guard soldiers and called for the “strengthening of reconciliation and national unity”.
