Interim Burkina president ‘returns to power’

One week after he was detained at the presidential palace following a military coup, Michel Kafando, Burkina Faso’s interim president, says he is back in power.

“I have returned to work,” Reuters quoted him as telling journalists in Ouagadougou, capital of the country.

“The transition is back and at this very minute is exercising the power of the state.”

Burkina Faso army had given the coup leaders up till 10am on Tuesday to restore democracy but Gilbert Diendere, head of the military junta, refused to step down at the expiration of the ultimatum.

Diendere said he was awaiting the outcome of the special summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the crisis.

ECOWAS leaders met in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on Tuesday, and agreed that the interim government should be reinstated.

Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari will be leading several African leaders to Ouagadougou to witness a formal handover to the interim government on Wednesday.

The presidential guard, which masterminded the coup, is loyal to Blaise Compaore, a military ruler, who was ousted in 2014 after 27 years in power..

At least 10 people have been killed and more than 100 injured in clashes between the presidential guard and protesters in the last one week.

Burkina Faso was due to hold general election on October 11.