Two of the five former presidents of Burkina Faso, invited Friday by the head of the ruling junta Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, attended the meeting, calling for « social cohesion in view of the difficult situation » their country is going through, plagued by jihadist violence.
« This meeting focused mainly on the search for lasting peace in our country, » Damiba said in a statement after the meeting. « We are convinced that it is only in social cohesion and unity that the forces fighting terrorism at this very moment will be more determined and successful, » he added.
The latter, who appeared slimmed down alongside Mr. Damiba and Mr. Ouedraogo, made his return to Ouagadougou on Thursday for the first time in eight years, causing controversy in Burkina Faso.
Last April, he was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment for his role in the assassination of his predecessor Thomas Sankara, during a coup that brought him to power in 1987.
« The urgency of preserving the existence of our homeland requires a synergy of actions that does not allow us to give us the luxury of wasting any time in the controversy, » said Damiba at the end of the meeting.
Three invited presidents did not make the trip.
Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, who was overthrown in January, was « physically prevented by a group of individuals from participating in the meeting, » according to Damiba.
Several of his supporters demonstrated Friday morning in front of his home in Ouagadougou, calling on him to boycott the meeting, which was described as a « farce.
Also invited, Isaac Zida, who briefly took power in 2014 and currently lives in exile in Canada, could not come « for administrative reasons », according to Mr. Damiba, and Michel Kafando (2014-2015) for « health reasons ».
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