[ 2015-12-30 ]

Former Banker sworn in as Burkina Faso President
A former banker was yesterday December 29, 2015
sworn in as Burkina Faso’s president in front of
thousands of cheering supporters.

Roch Marc Christian Kabore won elections last
month, the first since long-serving ruler Blaise
Compaore was ousted in a popular uprising last
year.

Mr Kabore was an ally of Mr Compaore before the
two fell out.

About 20 soldiers were detained on Monday for
plotting to free the jailed leader of
September’s short-lived coup, Gen Gilbert
Diendere, officials said.

Several African heads of state attended Mr
Kabore’s inauguration in the capital,
Ouagadougou.

Mr Kabore said he would defend the constitution
and “ensure justice for all”.

He once served as Mr Compoare’s prime minister,
but gained popularity after opposing his bid to
change the constitution and run for a third term.

Mr Compaore fled to Ivory Coast after being forced
out of office.

Gen Diendere, a powerful ally of the ousted
president, staged a coup in September.

He was forced to return power to a transitional
government seven days later, after the army sided
with protesters opposed to the coup.

Gen Diendere was charged in October with 11
crimes, including threatening state security. He
denies the charges.

The 20 soldiers accused of trying to free him were
arrested during a raid in Ouagadougou, outgoing
Prime Minister Isaac Zida said.

The group had also planned to free other coup
plotters, and re-establish the elite presidential
guard which organised the short-lived coup, he
added.

At least 57 people, including about 20
presidential guard officers, are being held over
the coup.

Both Gen Diendere and Mr Compaore have also been
charged with the 1987 murder of former President
Thomas Sankara.

They have denied any wrongdoing.

Source - BBC

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