On Thursday 17 February the European Parliament condemned the coup carried out on 24 January by the armed forces against the democratically elected government of Burkina Faso in a resolution adopted by 627 votes to 10 with 47 abstentions (see EUROPE 12877/13).
The European Parliament calls for an urgent return to “constitutional order, including an immediate return to civilian government”.
It also calls for “the immediate and unconditional release of President Roch Marc Kaboré, imprisoned during the coup, and all other government officials”.
MEPs also welcomed the announcement of “the creation of the technical committee with non-military actors, which will be responsible for defining the next steps in the transition process”, said a statement.
The resolution also reaffirms the European Parliament’s support for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union “in their efforts to mediate in this crisis and calls on the international community to continue the dialogue with the Burkinabe authorities in order to ensure a democratic and rapid transition to a civilian government”.
A “real and honest national dialogue, involving all sectors of civil society, is needed to define a clear vision of the future of Burkina Faso’s democracy”, the MEPs say.
Link to the adopted text: https://aeur.eu/f/e1
Link to the draft joint resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/dw (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)