West Africa Nobles Forum: Burkina Faso junta must opt for dialogue

The West African Nobles Forum (WANF) has learnt with worry, Monday’s military takeover in Burkina Faso, which has once again put security in the sub-region under global scrutiny.

As a Forum which promotes integrity and accountability as well as the general wellbeing of the people of West Africa, we are concerned that constitutional democracy had been disrupted in the country.

Reports indicate that a group of soldiers calling itself the Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration, led by Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba on Monday declared that they had assumed control of the country.

Speaking on the country’s state television, the leaders of the group said the government and national assembly had been dissolved and the constitution suspended. They also announced an overnight curfew.

The whereabouts of President Roch Kaboré, who won a second term in 2020 elections, remain unknown.

WANF is disturbed that the overthrow marks the fourth military coup in the past year in West and Central Africa specifically in Mali, Chad and Guinea.

It is also concerned about the whereabouts and safety of the constitutionally elected President, Roch Kaboré, as well as the deteriorating security situation, following the coup.

Irrespective of the reasons behind the overthrow, the Forum is of the view that taking over a government by the use of arms is not the way to go because of the effects of such actions on socioeconomic development.

We therefore call on the coup leaders to lay down their arms, exercise restraint and resort to dialogue with all actors involved to get their concerns addressed.

To our Burkinabes, we call for calm as stakeholders take steps to restore peace in the country. Further violence and destruction of national property would only derail the development of the nation.

It is our expectation that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union and other bodies take immediate steps to resolve the issue.

With the upheavals in the sub-regions which have been liked to dissatisfaction of the citizenry, we urge governments to ensure good governance, eschew corruption and avoid taking advantage of the power given to the people.

The people of Burkina Faso deserve the best of democratic governance and must decide for themselves who leads them in the laid down constitutional and democratic process.