The new military leader of Burkina Faso has promised a return to the normal constitutional order when the conditions are right.
Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba led a mutiny that overthrown President Roch Kaboré on Monday.
He blamed the president for failing to contain violence by Islamist militants.
He made his first national speech since taking power on the eve of an emergency summit of West African leaders, called in response to the coup.
On Friday, the regional bloc, ECOWAS, suspended Burkina Faso because of the military takeover.
The 15-member bloc also called for the immediate release from house arrest of the ousted president and other detained officials. Also, ECOWAS agreed to send a delegation to meet the coup leaders in the capital, Ouagadougou.
Chidozie Chima | August 29, 2024
