Brussels, 10/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 7 November, the European Union called for the swift political transition to civilian rule, announced for Burkina Faso on 5 November. It also warned for the first time that sanctions could be imposed against those hindering application of the Ouagadougou Agreement, which was welcomed as a decisive step forward towards a return to constitutional order.
A European External Action Service (EEAS) press release emphasised that the, “announcement made in Ouagadougou on 5 November last, for an agreement between all the different stakeholders on the principles for implementing a political transition led by civilians, will help to create a swift transition towards constitutional order and is a step in the right direction”.
“Successful transition is now based on two essential points: that all the stakeholders take part in the dialogue required for the full and comprehensive implementation of this agreement; that a civilian transitional government based on consensus is swiftly set up in order to avoid potential sanctions being imposed. Satisfying these conditions will avoid resorting to sanctions against those obstructing the re-introduction of constitutional order”.
The EU has welcomed the decisive role played by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union and the United Nations in obtaining the Ouagadougou Agreement and asserts that it is prepared to work with the contact group for Burkina Faso set up by ECOWAS and placed under the auspices of Macky Sall, the president of Senegal, “ to accompany the return to constitutional order as soon as possible”.
It should be pointed out that on 3 November last, the African Union (AU), in its capacity as mediator in the current crisis, provided a deadline of just over a fortnight, for the army to return power to the civilian authorities, which Lt Col Isaac Zida has controlled since the ousting of former President Blaise Compaoré on 31 October last. On Monday 10 November, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, the acting president of the AU, was still continuing his mediation efforts in Ouagadougou. (AN)