In the West African nation of Burkina Faso, the rise of violent protests against President Blaise Compaore on October 30th rapidly culminated in the government’s abrupt collapse and the president’s resignation just one day later.
A long-standing autocrat, President Compaore incited mass demonstrations when he proposed before the national assembly a constitutional amendment eliminating presidential term limits. This disregard for established electoral law is viewed as an attempt to extend his 27-year rule by making himself eligible to run for a fifth term in 2015. In opposition to the proposal, protesters flooded parliament, set fire to the main chamber and to officials’ homes, overran the state television station, and occupied public spaces to demand that President Compaore capitulate to popular pressure for his removal. Clashes between protesters and security forces have left several dead.
Responding to the outbreak of protests and popular movement against Compaore, General Honore Traore, the chief of staff of Burkina Faso’s armed forces, dissolved the government and parliament, ushering in a period of military rule. Traore announced his intention to form a transitional governing body until constitutional order could be restored and elections held within a year. Rescinding his proposed amendment, Compaore sought to secure a position as head of the transitional body, stating his willingness to discuss a transfer of power and promising he would step down as president once a new one had been elected.
The opposition, however, wanted nothing less than Compaore’s immediate resignation. Zephirin Diabre, an opposition politician, encouraged protesters to continue applying pressure on the regime, but advocated for peaceful change through respect for the democratic process. Foreign diplomats urged a peaceful resolution to the deteriorating crisis. But as protests from an agitated public spread and remained violent, even Compaore’s allies in neighboring countries observed that his time in power was waning. On Friday, October 31st, one day after the beginning of mass demonstrations, Compaore gave into popular pressure, officially relinquished his position as president.
While announcing his resignation, Compaore implored that the presidential vacancy be filled through democratic elections within a maximum of 90 days. In the interim, General Traore assumed the position as head of state and declared that he would oversee the transition in power and the election process. Members of the opposition are apprehensive that Traore is not a significant enough departure from Compaore, and prefer former defense minister Kouame Lougue to head the transition.
Since Compaore’s accession to power in 1987, he won four disputed elections and withstood five uprisings against his regime; he was increasingly viewed as illegitimate. The current protests presented the most serious challenge to Compaore and proved his undoing. Across West Africa, other long-standing autocrats considering measures to extend their stay in power watched the unfolding events closely. Some analysts argue that Burkina Faso may serve as warning of the perils of such actions; others have suggested, perhaps prematurely, that unrest may spread across Sub-Saharan Africa in a wave of protests reminiscent of the Arab Spring.
Photo: The Speaker News (cc).
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Popular Protests Abruptly Remove One of Africa’s Long-Standing Autocrats
November 3, 2014
In the West African nation of Burkina Faso, the rise of violent protests against President Blaise Compaore on October 30th rapidly culminated in the government’s abrupt collapse and the president’s resignation just one day later.
A long-standing autocrat, President Compaore incited mass demonstrations when he proposed before the national assembly a constitutional amendment eliminating presidential term limits. This disregard for established electoral law is viewed as an attempt to extend his 27-year rule by making himself eligible to run for a fifth term in 2015. In opposition to the proposal, protesters flooded parliament, set fire to the main chamber and to officials’ homes, overran the state television station, and occupied public spaces to demand that President Compaore capitulate to popular pressure for his removal. Clashes between protesters and security forces have left several dead.
Responding to the outbreak of protests and popular movement against Compaore, General Honore Traore, the chief of staff of Burkina Faso’s armed forces, dissolved the government and parliament, ushering in a period of military rule. Traore announced his intention to form a transitional governing body until constitutional order could be restored and elections held within a year. Rescinding his proposed amendment, Compaore sought to secure a position as head of the transitional body, stating his willingness to discuss a transfer of power and promising he would step down as president once a new one had been elected.
The opposition, however, wanted nothing less than Compaore’s immediate resignation. Zephirin Diabre, an opposition politician, encouraged protesters to continue applying pressure on the regime, but advocated for peaceful change through respect for the democratic process. Foreign diplomats urged a peaceful resolution to the deteriorating crisis. But as protests from an agitated public spread and remained violent, even Compaore’s allies in neighboring countries observed that his time in power was waning. On Friday, October 31st, one day after the beginning of mass demonstrations, Compaore gave into popular pressure, officially relinquished his position as president.
While announcing his resignation, Compaore implored that the presidential vacancy be filled through democratic elections within a maximum of 90 days. In the interim, General Traore assumed the position as head of state and declared that he would oversee the transition in power and the election process. Members of the opposition are apprehensive that Traore is not a significant enough departure from Compaore, and prefer former defense minister Kouame Lougue to head the transition.
Since Compaore’s accession to power in 1987, he won four disputed elections and withstood five uprisings against his regime; he was increasingly viewed as illegitimate. The current protests presented the most serious challenge to Compaore and proved his undoing. Across West Africa, other long-standing autocrats considering measures to extend their stay in power watched the unfolding events closely. Some analysts argue that Burkina Faso may serve as warning of the perils of such actions; others have suggested, perhaps prematurely, that unrest may spread across Sub-Saharan Africa in a wave of protests reminiscent of the Arab Spring.
Photo: The Speaker News (cc).
