John Adoyi, PBA Journalism MenteeLt. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, the Military leader of Burkina Faso who was ousted in a second coup in has fled to Togo on Sunday after he had agreed to step down.
The departure of Lt. Damiba to Togo was confirmed by Officials of the country who spoke on conditions of anonymity to Associated Press.
According to a statement released by the religious leaders who mediated peace between the new military leader, Ibrahim Traore and the toppled leader, Colonel Damiba, Damiba agreed to step down “In order to avoid confrontations with serious human and material consequences.”
Also, Damiba agreed to step down on conditions that security is guaranteed for his military allies and that peaceful transition and return to civilian rule within two years which he promised ECOWAS earlier this year is implemented.
Damiba who himself assumed power in January this year through a coup has been accused of not doing much to tackle the insecurity in the West African country with 16 million population.
Ibrahim Traore 34 and other younger officers who organised the coup on Friday said Damiba was ousted because he failed to end the Jihadist attacks which has seen civilians and military men killed.
The campaign of Jihadist spread from Neighboring Mali and Niger Republic, leading to breakdown of law and order that has led to loss of thousands of lives and increased the economic hardship and poverty rate in the country, and displaced more than two million citizens.
In a statement broadcast on state television, junta representative Capt. Kiswendsida Farouk Azaria Sorgho called on people to “desist from any act of violence and vandalism.”
The Ibrahim Traore led leadership said they have received the support of military chiefs to end the insurgency that has bedeviled the country and they also said they are ready and willing to go to “Other partners ready to help in the fight against terrorism.”
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) who welcomed the mediated agreement between the two leaders said in a statement they would send delegates to Ouagadougou the capital of Burkina Faso to meet with the new leader.
The ECOWAS statement, signed by Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, noted that Damiba had resigned “in order to avoid a violent confrontation and possible bloodshed.”
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