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Burkina Faso Starts Talks On Path Back To Civilian Rule

Burkina Faso Starts Talks On Path Back To Civilian Rule | Daily Report Nigeria
Chadian Soldiers move in a file formation to an ambush site cover during Exercise Flintlock 2019, Feb. 23, 2019 in Atar, MR. Flintlock is a multi-national exercise consisting of 32 African and Western nations at multiple locations in Burkina Faso and Mauritania that is designed to strengthen the ability of key partner nations to counter violent extremist organizations, protect their borders and provide security for their people. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Steven Lewis)

A two-day national dialogue began in military-run Burkina Faso on Saturday as the West African nation beset by jihadist violence tries to chart a path back to civilian rule.

We have a date with history,” said government minister Emile Zerbo, reading out a message on behalf of junta chief Captain Ibrahim Traore at the opening ceremony broadcast on national television.

“That is why we must silence our quarrels to share the wealth of our diversity, to protect what is essential and write a new page in our history,” Zerbo said.

The army has governed Burkina Faso since 2022, carrying out two coups that it justified in large part due to the country’s persistent insecurity.

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Jihadist rebels affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group have waged a grinding insurgency since 2015 that has killed thousands and displaced millions.

An initial national dialogue adopted a charter that installed Traore as president, and put in place a government and a legislative assembly. It set the duration of the transition to civilian rule at 21 months with the deadline due to expire on July 1, but Traore has repeatedly warned holding elections will be difficult given the perilous security situation.

Civil society representatives, the security and defence forces and lawmakers in the transitional assembly were taking part in this weekend’s talks but it was unclear if political parties would join them.

According to one participant, the debates will focus on the length of the transition, which could be extended by up to three and a half years from July 2.

The eligibility of Traore in a future election will also be on the agenda.

AFP

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