ECOWAS Commission President
By Mustapha Ceesay
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called for a “rapid return to constitutional order” in Burkina Faso by 1st July 2024.
The call by the regional bloc followed its condemnation “in the strongest terms” of the Friday military coup in Burkina Faso.
“ECOWAS reaffirms its unreserved condemnation of any seizure or retention of power by unconstitutional means and demands the scrupulous respect of the timetable already agreed upon with the Transition Authorities for a rapid return to constitutional order by 1st July 2024,” ECOWAS said in a statement dated 30th September 2022.
The statement called the counter coup “a major setback at a time when progress had been made, particularly through diplomacy and efforts undertaken to ensure an orderly return to constitutional order” by the stated deadline, following the January coup.
The bloc warned any institution, force or group of persons who, by their actions, may hinder the planned return to constitutional order, or contribute to undermining the peace and stability of Burkina Faso and the Region.
This is the 8th military takeover in the colony, since independence in 1960, according to reports.