Burkina Faso’s parliament speaker declares himself president

The Speaker of Burkina Faso’s National Transition Council (CNT, interim parliament) Cherif Moumina Sy on Friday issued a statement declaring himself the interim president.

In a message broadcast on a local radio station, Sy equally called for the surrender of the Presidential Security Regiment (RSP) which on Thursday overthrew the transition government led by interim President Michel Kafando.

He urged the population to come out in large numbers at the “Place of the Nation” to declare war against these soldiers he considered as “terrorists” and an “illegal force” that must be dismantled.

He equally urged the population to block all roads and streets, before starting to march towards Naaba Koom camp, the RSP headquarters.

The operation, he said, was aimed at teaching the putschists a lesson. To achieve this objective, Sy asked the army boss and other military commanders to play their role.

In a statement issued by the head of the National Council for Democracy (CND) Gen. Gilbert Diendere, the putschists announced the release of Kafando and the ministers.

On Wednesday evening, the RSP soldiers detained the transition president and members of government, before setting up the National Council for Democracy.