Burkina Faso: Coup leaders demand guarantees for disarming

The leaders of Burkina Faso’s week-long coup on Friday demanded guarantees for their safety before they disarm, a senior member of the putschist presidential guard said.

“The men are categorically opposed” to disarming without the guarantees, the source said. 

“They have met a delegation from army headquarters to discuss the problem of their and their families’ safety. They have no guarantees in this respect.”

On September 16, the elite presidential guard, the RSP, seized interim president Michel Kafando, acting prime minister Yacouba Isaac Zida and two other government ministers, announcing a coup the following day.

But the new military regime, led by General Gilbert Diendere, stepped down under a mediation brokered by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and under pressure from the regular army.

The interim cabinet met in the prime minister’s office Friday, amid a major security presence.

They were later joined by armed forces chief Pingrenoma Zagre, who had opposed the putschists.

Under the terms of the deal, the RSP agreed to stand down from their positions in Ouagadougou and the army also agreed to pull out.

The coup and resulting unrest claimed the lives of at least 10 people while more than 100 were wounded.