Another Military Officer Announces Self As Burkina Faso's Head Of State

Another military officer, Col. Isaac Zida, former
Presidential Guard to ousted President Blaise
Compaore, has announced he was assuming
responsibility as the country’s Head of State.
Burkina Faso’s local media quoted Zida as
making the declaration in Ouagadougou during a
broadcast over a private television station on
Saturday.
The announcement is coming barely 24 hours
after Burkina Faso’s Army chief, Gen. Nabéré
Traore declared himself as the Head of State
following Compaore’s resignation.
“I have now assumed the responsibilities of Head
of State to ensure the continuity of the state
pending the collective agreement of our people for
a peaceful transition.
“I assure the entire nation that former President
Blaise Compaore, who resigned on Friday, is safe
and secure’’, he was quoted as saying.
Compaore-led government came under attack
following parliament’s planned amendment of
Article 37 of the country’s constitution.
Thousands of Burkinabes stormed the streets of
major cities protesting against the planned
amendment and setting the National Assembly
ablaze in the process.
The protesters feared that the amendment was
planned to pave the way for Compaore to stay in
office beyond 2015.
Reports say that some sections of the country
were opposed to Traore’s emergence as the head
of state following his closeness to Compaore.
It will be recalled that Compaore, who spent 27
years in office, was billed to vacate it in 2015
after a presidential election.
Compaore came into power in a 1987 coup
against the then President, Thomas Sankara.