Michel Kafando reinstated Burkinabe President
Burkina Faso’s interim President Michel Kafando has been formally reinstated, a week after the military takeover.
The ceremony took place in the capital, Ouagadougou, in the presence of some West African leaders, including President John Dramani Mahama, who helped to mediate an end to the crisis.
The reinstatement of President Kafando came a day after the presidential guard, who were behind the coup, had signed a deal with the regular army to avoid violence.
They pledged to return to barracks and the army to withdraw from the capital.
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The presidential guard (RSP) is loyal to Mr Blaise Compaore, the country's long-time ruler who was ousted in a popular uprising last year when he attempted to amend the constitution to extend his 27-year rule by five years.
Following the political turmoil in 2014, the then Chairman of ECOWAS, President Mahama, and other West African leaders brokered a political settlement that culminated in the installation of a transitional government
After last week’s coup, the elite soldiers installed General Gilbert Diendere as the leader — a month before elections had been due in the landlocked country.
The army last Monday ordered the coup leaders to step down or be ousted by force, raising the spectre of a civil war.
Casualties
At least 10 people have been killed and more than 100 injured in clashes between the RSP and protesters.
According to BBC reports from Ouagadougou, President Kafando thanked the West African leaders, to cheers from the audience of politicians and civil society leaders.
They put together a plan to end the crisis at an emergency meeting of ECOWAS last Tuesday.
Benin's President Thomas Boni Yayi, at the ceremony, said efforts must now be focused on moves to quickly bring free, fair and transparent elections.
It is not clear whether the mediators' peace plan includes key RSP demands for an amnesty for the coup leaders and the lifting of an electoral ban on those connected to Mr Compaore.
Gratitude
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Kafando had said he was not fully committed to the plan put together last Tuesday by West African leaders at an emergency of ECOWAS.
"We are proud of the mobilisation and fearlessness of the people of Burkina Faso, in particular of its youth, whose determination has stopped the coup succeeding,” he said.
"I salute the international community for having rejected unequivocally this action. Regarding the ECOWAS proposals for a solution to the crisis, it is obvious that we will only commit to them if they take into account the will of Burkinabes," he added.
He was detained during a cabinet meeting last Wednesday.
Regular soldiers had entered Ouagadougou on Monday vowing to retake it.