Burkina Faso Military restores constitution, names coup leader President

The Burkina Faso’s military government has restored the country’s constitution which was suspended after it took over power last week, while also naming the could leader, Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, as the country’s President for a transitional period, with powers to act as the Head of State.

The announcement which was made on Tuesday, came a few days after the African Union (AU), and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), suspended the country over the coup.

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In the statement read on national television, the military government announced it had approved a ‘fundamental act’ that ‘lifts the suspension of the constitution,’ a move that had been declared after the January 24 coup.

The 37-article document guarantees independence of the judiciary and presumption of innocence, as well as basic liberties spelled out in the constitution such as freedom of movement and freedom of speech.

Under the ‘fundamental act,’ the military government which has been officially named the Patriotic Movement for Preservation and Restoration (MPSR), said it is ensuring the continuity of the state pending the establishment of transitional bodies.

It formally identified coup leader Damiba as president of the MPSR, specifying that his role also encompasses “president of Burkina Faso, head of state and supreme leader of the armed forces.”

On Friday, January 29, ECOWAS had suspended Burkina Faso from the regional bloc following the coup that sacked the democratically elected government of President Roch Marc Kaboré, who was also arrested and detained.

Leaders from the West African body who met virtually to discuss the military takeover in the country, resolved to suspend the troubled country in the aftermath of the coup, making it the third West African nation to be so punished for a military takeover in the past 18 months.

Announcing the suspension of Burkina Faso from the regional alliance after the meeting, ECOWAS Chairman, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, said:

“The crisis in Burkina Faso and its ramifications and the deteriorating political situation in our region should be a matter of great concern to all of us.

“No current country is insulated from its occurrence in the community and we have to take action to nip it in the bud.”