Burkina Faso's government said on Sunday that former President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, overthrown in a coup in January, enjoyed "
total release
", while his supporters denounced his "
taking hostage
".
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Burkina Faso "
reaffirms the total release of the former head of state, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré
," said a statement from government spokesman Lionel Bilgo.
"
This reminder to national and international opinion is part of the dynamics of strengthening social cohesion and national reconciliation
", he adds, affirming that "
the government reiterates its good intentions for dialogue inclusiveness and its commitment to working for the success of the transition
”.
The Burkinabè authorities have set a three-year transition period before civilians return to power.
This press release was published on the day when a summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is held in Accra, which must decide whether or not to impose new sanctions on Burkina, suspended from the authorities of the organization after the January 24 military coup.
Accused of failing to stem the jihadist violence that has undermined Burkina Faso since 2015, former President Kaboré was first placed under house arrest in Ouagadougou, then was able to return to his home in the Burkinabe capital on April 6.
But according to his supporters, he is not free to move there and he is in fact "
taken hostage
".
The fate of Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, whose release has been demanded by ECOWAS, the UN and the African Union was mentioned during discussions between the ruling junta and the West African facilitator for Burkina, the former Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou, who came Friday and Saturday to Ouagadougou, on the eve of the Accra summit.
He underlined
the “availability
” and “
openness to dialogue
” of the military authorities.
