FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, December 2, 2014
CONTACT: Ian Koski at 202-224-5042

Statement from Senator Coons on Burkina Faso’s political transition

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, issued the following statement after the recent return to a civilian-led interim government in Burkina Faso. The new government took over from the transitional military authority that had governed since the popularly inspired resignation on October 31 of then-President Blaise Compaoré.

“Adherence to democratic principles is critical for countries experiencing a power vacuum,” Senator Coons said. “Following President Compaoré's resignation, a diverse coalition of Burkinabé from civil society, traditional and religious institutions, political parties, and the military worked hard to find common ground on a way forward for their country. Through negotiation and consensus, they drafted a charter that empowered an interim government – led by a civilian president – which will govern until the next scheduled elections in November 2015. The collaborative spirit embodied in this commitment to a democratic path for Burkina Faso deserves respect and praise, as does the courage and wisdom of all Burkinabé during this tumultuous period.

“Interim President Michel Kafando and his choice as interim Prime Minister, Lt. Col. Isaac Zida, have agreed not to stand for election next year. This will help ensure that the power to choose a national leadership returns as soon as possible to the Burkinabé, where it rightly belongs,” Senator Coons continued. “The interim government should discharge its duties in the same consensus-oriented, balanced manner that characterized the pre-charter negotiations. At no time should the role of any part of the governing coalition – including that of the military – grow beyond that which all sides have previously agreed to. The abrupt end of the Compaoré era, and the weeks that followed, have demonstrated that a new generation of Burkinabé – like similar new generations in other African countries – has come to the fore, insisting that their voices be heard and fiercely committed to the notion that power rests with the people. It is a message that resonates across the continent.”