Mahama Meets Burkina Faso Military Leader

President John Mahama and his colleague Presidents of Nigeria and Senegal have arrived in the Burkina Faso capital of Ouagadougou and have held discussions with Lt Col. Isaac Zida, the interim leader of the West African nation. Presidential Spokesperson, Ben Dotse Malor on Citi Prime News disclosed that the President has also met the representatives of the United Nations (UN) in Burkina Faso, ECOWAS and also the African Union (AU). Lt Col. Isaac Zida became the interim leader of Burkina Faso last Friday after violent protests forced President Blasie Compaore to resign after 27 years in power. The three-day protest was sparked by attempts by President Compaore to amend the country�s constitution to extend his 27-year rule by five years. According to Mr. Malor, meetings are going to be held �from now till late today among all the political stakeholders, Civil Society Groups, religious organizations, everybody who is anybody who is deciding the future of Burkina Faso.� He stated that President Mahama and his team are poised to finding �a way through the constitution of Burkina Faso�because in that way we can guarantee a safe, secure and law abiding future for the people of Burkina Faso.� �But all these would have to happen with the consensus and the agreement of the key stakeholders�so that is going to happen so that the transition can happen smoothly for a civilian to lead the transition to normalcy by way of the constitution of Burkina Faso,� Malor added. The AU has given Burkina Faso�s military a two-week deadline to hand over power to a civilian ruler or face sanctions. ECOWAS has also warned it will not accept any take over through unconstitutional means and has pledged to safeguard the peace of the nation. President Mahama in his capacity as ECOWAS Chairman is visiting the country after receiving a report from a Joint Mission of ECOWAS, the AU and the United Nations (UN) that was sent to Burkina Faso to study the politically volatile situation. The Mission, which was in that country from October 30, returned to brief President Mahama last Sunday. President Mahama approved the recommendations of the Joint Mission and re-affirmed the sub-regional group, ECOWAS� support for a peaceful restoration of constitutional order. He has also been engaging with the stakeholders including the military and called for a consensual solution in line with the provisions of the constitution of Burkina Faso.