Burkina Faso junta leader justifies meeting with former heads of state
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - Burkina Faso's transitional president, Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba, said on Friday after a meeting with two former heads of state that the objective was part of a search for social cohesion in order to better fight against terrorism.
"In addition to the efforts made by the forces engaged in the fight against terrorism, it seemed appropriate to examine with our predecessors the best conditions to create and forge a solid cohesion between Burkinabè," he said.
Lt. Col. Damiba explained that this would help "increase our chances of success in the fight against insecurity that threatens the very foundations of the country".
Five former heads of state -- Michel Kafando, Yacouba Izaac Zida, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, Blaise Compaoré and Jean-Baptist Ouédraogo -- were invited to the meeting.
However, Kafando, Zida, and Kaboré were unable to attend the meeting.
"For health reasons, Mr. Kafando could not make the trip. Mr. Zida was prevented for administrative reasons and Mr. Kaboré was physically prevented," Lt. Col. Damiba said.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on Friday in front of Kaboré's home, forcing him not to attend the meeting.
Lt. Col. Damiba said many "partisan communications" have sought to distort the meaning and scope of the meeting.
"This summit meeting held in the land of our ancestors, and nowhere else, focused primarily on the search for lasting peace for our country," he said.
"We have thus on this occasion expressed to our predecessors the desire to see them put themselves above the fray to better embody the ideals of the whole nation," he added.
-0- PANA TNDD/IS/MTA/MA 9July2022
