Burkina Faso will return to normal 'when conditions are right' - Coup leader

Burkinabe coup leader Lt Col Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba has delivered his first public speech since taking over after the coup of January 24. Damiba and his men overthrew President Christian Roch Marc Kabore.

The 41-year-old called for unity as he justified reasons for seizing power - insecurity primarily, stressing that he will return the country to constitutional order when

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"The rise of the [Patriotic Movement for Preservation and Restoration] MPSR was imposed by the course of events in our country, weakened by so many incidents and attacked from all sides by radical armed groups.

"We have here a great opportunity to reconcile our people with themselves and start their triumphant march towards the horizon of happiness," he said in an address carried by state broadcaster.

He also called on international partners to support the country in these times even though hours after his address the regional bloc, ECOWAS, suspended the country after an extraordinary meeting of heads of state held virtually on January 28.

Until his 'rise' to the position of coup leader, Damiba's last held post as a Lieutenant Colonel of the army was head of security for the capital, Ouagadougou (the country's third security region).

He had only been handed that post in December 2021 by outgone President Kabore in a move analysts said was to retain support of the military at the time.

From Ouagadougou security chief, Damiba was announced on Monday evening as leader of the junta known as "Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration, or MPSR."