On Thursday, October 30, 2014,
about 1,500 citizens of Burkina Faso openly rejected the planned tenure
elongation of President Blaise Compaore announced on 21 October; they broke
through a heavy security cordon and laid siege to the parliament building in Ouagadougou
despite police firing warning shots in the air.
In heat of the protest, Compaoré,
who has led the west African nation for 27 years, declared a state of emergency
after protesters stormed parliament and torched other state buildings.
Following the uncontrolled
violent protests, Burkina Faso's President Blaise Compaore announced his
resignation and issued a statement saying the presidency was now vacant and
urging elections within 90 days. Meanwhile, Military chief Gen Honore Traore
said he had taken over as head of state "in line with constitutional
measures".
Known in colonial times as Upper Volta, the landlocked
country became independent from France in 1960 and its name was changed to
Burkina Faso (“the land of upright men”) in 1984.
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Quick lessons from Burkina Faso
*Power-drunk leaders must be
far-sighted to start a re-think.
*Those referred to as
"ordinary citizens" has the power to spark the needed change.
*The wave of political change is
beaming strongly.
*Democracy is gradually taking
shape in Africa.
*Failure to properly manage the
Blaise' impromptu departure, the country could face political upheaval.
