In Burkina Faso, the ruling junta, the MPSR, received this Tuesday morning, February 1, representatives of the main political parties at the presidential palace. This is the follow-up to the consultations initiated by the country’s new strongman, Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, last week. The parties are invited to forget political activism and unite behind the junta.
With our special correspondent in Ouagadougou, Peter Pinto
Ex-majority, ex-opposition, ex-unaffiliated parties: all the major figures of the main Burkinabè political parties were in Kosyam this Tuesday morning, at the invitation of the junta, for a brief meeting.
As always, Lieutenant-Colonel Damiba explained the reasons for his coup and what he expected from political parties. Parties invited to support the ongoing process and to contribute at their level.
At the exit, the president of the MPP, the former ruling party, Alassane Bala Sakandé, who reappeared publicly for the first time since the putsch, did not wish to speak and drove off to see the former leader of the State Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. With three other political leaders, he obtained permission to meet him.
Former opposition leader Eddie Komboigo promised to contribute to help the Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration (MPSR). ” We will make our contribution. He expects concrete contributions to help him succeed in his mission. “, he comments.
Same tone from Tahirou Barry. ” We are willing to support this process “, declares at the exit the former Minister of Culture:
It was a meeting of truth, a meeting of frankness, because the President of Faso invited each other to show responsibility, restraint and above all patriotism in supporting the Transition. We have taken note of this, and we are ready to accompany this process
Taking note and uniting behind the junta will therefore be the line of most formations. Achille Tapsoba, leader of one of the branches of the CDP, the former opposition party:
They said their openness to all those who can contribute, and those who have experience, those who have competence, will be required. Not as policies; they want to be apolitical for the moment and until the end of the process. It would therefore be individuals, and for the sake of the cause, they will call on those whom they deem useful to call.
Clearly, the junta strongly invites politicians to avoid any activism that could hinder its action. The parties are on the sidelines temporarily, even if their leaders could play a role in a transition for which the MPSR has not yet revealed its plans.
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