By John Ikani
Burkina Faso’s coup leader-turned-president, Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba has justified his military takeover at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA77).
The junta leader who acknowledged that the overthrow was “perhaps reprehensible” and inconsistent with the UN’s values, added that it was “necessary and indispensable.”
“It was, above all, an issue of survival for our nation,” he said. That’s even if it was “perhaps reprehensible in terms of the principles held dear by the United Nations and the international community as a whole.”
The coup in Burkina Faso’s coup came in the wake of similar takeovers in Mali and in Guinea, heightening fears of a rollback of democracy in West Africa.
None of the juntas has committed to a date for new elections.
Many in Burkina Faso, however, supported the military takeover, frustrated with the previous government’s inability to stem extremist violence that has killed thousands and displaced at least 2 million.
Yet the violence has failed to wane in the months since Lt. Col. Damiba took over.
Earlier this month, he also took over the position of defense minister after dismissing a brigadier general from the post.
The Burkina Faso leader said on Friday that his transitional government will remain in power for almost two more years despite calls from West African neighbours for a quicker return to democratic rule.
But Lt. Col. Damiba gave no precise date for the holding of new elections in his speech to the UN General Assembly.
He warned, however, that the insurgency embroiling Burkina Faso has security risks for the rest of the world too emphasizing that Europe “is the closest continent to Africa.”
“No precautions or prevention measures will prevent terrorism from crossing the Atlantic if the Sahel is abandoned,” Damiba said.
“Nothing at all will be able to stop the youth in the Sahel countries and its surroundings from giving in to the temptation of perilous immigration to Europe through the Sahara and the Mediterranean if these youth no longer have any hope by staying at home.”
