ECOWAS and Burkina Faso reach consensus on transition period

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Burkina Faso on Sunday reached a consensus on a two-year transition to constitutional rule.

This was announced by the current chairman of ECOWAS, Guinea Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, in Ouagadougou after leading a delegation of the sub-regional group for talks with the Burkinabe authorities.

"We had very good discussions with the Burkinabe authorities. We made assessments on the progress of commitments that have been made since the Summit of Heads of State and Government (in Accra on 3 July)," said Mr. Embalo at the end of the meeting.

He explained that the Burkinabe authorities also showed what their vision was and what the transitional government should focus on.

"We saw that the deadlines were very important and there was a consensus on 24 months, from 1 July, 2022, to 1 July, 2024," he said.

He said the most important areas on which the transitional government must focus are security challenges, humanitarian issues, the return to constitutional order, resource mobilisation, and the establishment of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

ECOWAS also commended the efforts of the Burkinabe government in the fight against terrorism.

"I think we all need to mobilise alongside the government. Burkina Faso is a founding member of ECOWAS, despite this situation, we must mobilise behind the transitional government," he said.

-0- PANA NTDD/IS/MTA/MA 25July2022