To avoid sanctions, Burkina Faso's military alleges it will hand over power to civilians

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Burkina Faso's military told religious leaders today that it plans to hand over power to civilians to avoid sanctions against the West African nation.

The heads of Catholic, evangelical Christian and Muslim faiths met with Lt. Col. Isaac Zida this morning, the Mogho Naaba, king of the Mossi ethnic group, said in an interview. The king was in the meeting. Zida was appointed as acting president after Blaise Compaore was ousted last week.

"They came to tell us that they intend to hand over power to civilians in order to avoid international sanctions on Burkina," the Mogho Naaba said. "We're asking political parties to agree among each other to end the protests. We're also asking youth to refrain from looting to save our country."

The U.S. and France have used Burkina Faso, a nation of 17 million people, as a hub to fight militants linked to al-Qaeda. The army started talks with the opposition, religious leaders and diplomats Nov. 2 after one person was killed in protests against military rule. Zida said yesterday the armed forces are not seeking to rule as the African Union set a two-week deadline for the army to step down or face sanctions.

Compaore had held power there for 27 years, before he resigned on Oct. 31 after four days of protests against a plan to extend his rule. Zida was named leader of a transitional administration.

Constitutional Rights

The military's promise to step down to religious leaders is a good first step, Benewende Stanislas Sankara, head of the Union for the Renaissance-Sankarist Movement, said by phone.

"This strengthens us in our conviction and takes away doubt," Sankara said. "Let us hope that things will go as they say."

Protests persisted after Compaore's departure, switching their target to the selection of an army officer as his successor. Army leaders met with foreign diplomats "to reassure them and say we're not here to usurp power, but we are here to find a way out of the situation we're in," Zida told reporters yesterday at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

The African Union's Peace and Security Council said yesterday the army officers in charge have two weeks to hand over control to civilians. Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, who is acting chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, will arrive in Burkina Faso tomorrow to help mediate discussions, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, president of the Ecowas commission, told reporters late yesterday. Nigerian President Goodluck Johnathan and Senegal's Macky Sall will also attend.

Cotton and Gold

Burkina Faso is sub-Saharan Africa's second-largest cotton producer and fifth-largest gold miner. It ranks 181st out of 187 nations on the United Nations Human Development Index, and had an average income of about $650 in 2012. The economy depends heavily on remittances from an estimated 4 million migrant workers in neighboring Ivory Coast, according to the World Bank.

Compaore, a 63-year-old former army officer, seized power in a coup in 1987 and has won four elections since. His resignation followed street protests over a bill that would have allowed him another term in office. The opposition has called for Saran Sereme, head of the Party for Democracy and Change, to succeed him as president.