MOSCOW, November 17 (Sputnik) — Burkinabe authorities have proclaimed experienced diplomat and former foreign minister Michel Kafando as the nation’s President for the transition period and who will lead the country towards civilian democratic rule until 2015.
Kafando was selected Monday by a committee of 23 members, which included representatives of political parties and movements, civil activists, religious leaders and the military, according to Voice of America report. The negotiations within the committee had commenced the previous day.
"The consensus candidate is Michel Kafando," Ignace Sandwidi, representing the Catholic Church in the committee, told AFP.
The 72-year-old Kafando served as Burkinabe envoy to the UN during the period of 1998 through 2011 and the nation’s FM in 1981-1982. Among other candidates for the interim presidency were journalist Cherif Sy and sociologist and former minister Josephine Ouedraogo.
Kafando’s is first step as interim President will be to appoint an interim prime minister and then form the executive authority in Burkina Faso, which is expected to happen later this week. The appointment of the interim President himself is yet to be approved by the Constitutional Council.
Following the massive protest in October, Burkinabe long-time now-former President Blaise Compaore fled the country, and power was seized by the military, which appointed Lt.-Col. Yacouba Zida an interim political leader. Zida promised to transfer power to the civilian-led transitory executive body, but it was not before the threat of international sanctions that the military handed power to a civilian leader.
Today was the deadline imposed by the African Union, which had cautioned the Burkinabe military to abstain from staying in power and ensure the establishment of a civilian interim authority or face imminent sanctions.
The general election in Burkina Faso is scheduled for November 2015.
