Transition Plan Implemented in Burkina Faso

Compaore announcing his intention to amend the constitution

       Burkina Faso, the West African nation, has agreed that the country's political transition should last a full year, which will then be followed by elections in November 2015.  The military has been in charge of the country ever since President Blaise Compaore was stormed out of office last week.  Yet there have been no discussions of who will head the transitional government, however the African Union (AU) has given Lt Col Isaac Zida two weeks to hand over power to a civilian or the country will face sanctions.  The AU sanctions could include suspension of AU membership for the country and a travel ban on military officials.  

       I believe that it was only a matter of time before something like this happened.  Luckily for the previous government, it had taken 27 years for it to happen.  Mr Compaore seized power in a coup in 1987 and went on to win four questionable elections since.  Ultimately the protests were triggered when citizens heard that Mr Compaore was planning on amending the constitution in place in order to run for office once again.  This time, the people had enough willpower to not allow this to fall through as it has in previous years.  Compaore is currently staying in Cote D'Ivoire with leader Alassane Ouattara.  With regards to sanctions, I think that the AU is doing the right thing because the country should not stay in a state of military command for an entire year.  However, it is imperative that the military find someone fit for leading the country for the next year.  

 William Deo

Adapted from: 
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29928059