World Rises Against Burkina Faso Coup Plotters

By James Orji

The United Nations, UN has called for the immediate release of President Roch Marc Christian Kabore and other top government officials by coup plotters who ousted him form power yesterday

Kabore was detained after soldiers took power in the West African country on Monday.

The call comes on the crest of a similar one by the Economic Community of West Africa, ECOWAS and African Union, AU demanding the release of President Kabore and immediate restoration of his government.

ECOWAS in a statement said it will hold “the military responsible for the physical wellbeing” of the president.

“ECOWAS is following with great concern the evolution of the political and security situation in Burkina Faso, characterised since Sunday 23 January by an attempted coup d’etat. ECOWAS condemns this extremely grave act,” the regional bloc said.

The AU also called on the national army and security forces “to ensure the physical integrity of the Kaboré and his government.

In a statement issued by the organisation yesterday, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat “calls on the national army and security forces of the country to strictly adhere to their republican vocation, namely the defence of the internal and external security of the country”.

Speaking on the coup the UN human rights office said democracy must be preserved in Burkinafaso and the rule of law is respected.

Ravina Shamdasani, UN spokesperson said Michelle Bachelet, the UN high commissioner for human rights, visited the country in November 2021 where she called on all parties to ensure that democracy is preserved in the trouble country.

The coup plotters said they decided to oust President Kabore from power due to insecurity in the country. The mutineers said the demand by the military for weapons to fight insurgency had been largely ignored by the administration.

But speaking Shamdasani “call on the military to immediately release President Roch Marc Christian Kabore and other high-level officials who have been detained. We urge a swift return to constitutional order. The high commissioner deeply deplores the military takeover of power in Burkina Faso.

“In the face of the security threats and tremendous humanitarian challenges facing the country, it is more important than ever to ensure that the rule of law, constitutional order, and the country’s obligations under international human rights law are fully respected,” the spokeswoman said.

“It is crucial for democratic space to be effectively protected, to ensure people are able to air their grievances and aspirations, and to participate in meaningful dialogue to work towards addressing the many crises in the country.”

Meanwhile, the leadership of the mutineers said on Tuesday that President Kabore is hail and hearty, in response to fear about the president’s life, adding that ‘his life is not threatened’.