A day later President Kafando and Prime Minister Zida were released by a section of the Presidential Guard and restored into government. After the coup d'etat last week, the UN Security Council has been urging all parties in Burkina Faso to cease violence and resume the country's peace process.
Today, Friday September 25th, the Security Council welcomed the recently reinstated President Michel Kafando and other transitional authorities from Burkina Faso shortly after Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met with President Kafando and his colleagues.
Last week, the Regiment of Presidential Security (RSP), an elite military unit, detained Michel Kafando the sitting interim President of Burkina Faso. In addition to his detention, the RSP also arrested Yacouba Issac Zida, Burkina’s Prime Minister. The coup was officially announced via state radio and television services which stated that the National Council for Democracy was the new legitimate government in Burkina Faso.
A day later President Kafando and Prime Minister Zida were released by a section of the Presidential Guard and restored into government. After the coup d'etat last week, the UN Security Council has been urging all parties in Burkina Faso to cease violence and resume the country's peace process.
The Council's statement called for "the resumption of the transition without delay, including the holding of free, fair and credible elections, in accordance with the Constitution and Traditional Charter of Burkina Faso."
In Mr. Ban Ki-moon's statement he praised the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) heads of states to resolve the political crisis speedily.
Going forward, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa, will work closely with partners to support Burkina Faso's authorities for peaceful and transparent elections.