The ousted president of Burkina Faso has left the capital Ouagadougou
and fled towards the south of the country, a French diplomatic source
said on Friday.
President Blaise Compaore has "left for the south. He's still in the
country," said the diplomatic source, who did not wish to be named.
A crowd gathers on October 31, 2014 in front of army headquarters in
Ouagadougou, demanding that the army take over following the
resignation of the president. Burkina Faso's army chief Navere Honore
Traore said he was taking power on October 31 as head of state after
President Blaise Compaore announced his resignation as tens of
thousands of protesters demanded that he quit immediately after a day
of unrest that saw mass protests and the storming of parliament and
other public buildings.
The source said he was heading for the town of Po, near the border
with Ghana although it was not clear whether the former president
intended to remain in the country.
Paris said that Compaore should have little difficulty in travelling
across borders as he was not subject to an international travel ban.
Compaore has not asked for refuge in France and such a trip is not
being discussed, the source added.
Key dates in the west African state of Burkina Faso after President
Blaise Compaore, who seized power in 1987, resigned on Friday and was
replaced by the army chief.
Compaore served two seven-year terms before a change to the
constitution allowed him to serve another two five-year terms.
He had been seeking to amend the constitution to be able to run for
re-election once again in 2015.
- October 15, 1987: Compaore seizes power in a coup in which his
former friend and one of Africa's most loved leaders, Thomas Sankara,
is ousted and assassinated.
Compaore quickly launches a "rectification" of Sankara's "democratic,
popular revolution", that include the execution of two other comrades
in arms accused of plotting yet another coup.
- June 2, 1991: A new constitution establishes a multi-party system
and brings an end to 11 years of military rule.
- December 1, 1991: Compaore is elected president, but the vote is
marked by an opposition boycott.
- November, 15, 1998: Compaore is re-elected at a vote marked by
another opposition boycott.
- December 13, 1998: The bodies of journalist Norbert Zongo and three
others are found in a burned vehicle as he investigated a murder that
might have had links to Compaore's brother Francois. An unprecedented
political and social crisis ensues.
- April 11, 2000: Deputies modify the constitution to give the
president a five-year mandate, renewable once. In 1997, deputies had
approved an unlimited number of seven-year terms.
- October 7, 2003: Authorities say they have foiled an attempted coup.
Togo and Ivory Coast are suspected of involvement, but deny links with
the putschists.
- December 20-21, 2006: Clashes between police and soldiers in which
five are killed and several dozen injured in the capital.
- February and March 2008: Violent demonstrations erupt against the
high cost of living.
- November 21, 2010: Compaore wins the presidential election at the
first round. Opposition candidates reject the outcome and denounce
"serious irregularities".
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