Burkina Faso constitution restored – Army

Burkina Faso’s military has said that the country’s constitution, which was suspended by the army after President Blaise Compaore was toppled after mass protests last month, has been restored.

Saturday’s announcement was made a day after the West African country’s military reached an agreement with opposition parties and civil groups on the formation of a transitional government.

Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida declared himself head of state on November 1 after Compaore resigned.

“The suspension of the constitution of June 2, 1991 has been lifted from today, on 15 November, to allow the process of putting in place a civilian transition,” a Burkino Faso military spokesman said.

Zida added that parties to the political process had until 12:00noon  on Sunday to propose a leader of the transition to civilian rule.

Delicate negotiations had begun on Friday in Ouagadougou, the capital, over who the country’s next leaders would be, including the president, the head of the interim parliament and the prime minister.

“Analysts are saying that things are moving really quickly and we might see a new government in place by next Friday,” Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa, reporting from Ouagadougou, said.

“Most people here do not want to see a politician in office. People want a neutral person.

“Many are still sceptical about military rulers stepping down. They will believe when it actually happens.”

Compaore fled the country last month amid mass protests against his efforts to change the constitution to seek re-election in 2015 after 27 years in power in the landlocked former French colony of some 17 million people.

Burkina Faso’s military has faced mounting international pressure to transfer power to an interim government.

source al jazeera