Burkina, where are the just men?

The word “ultimatum” connotes a statement of threat, finality and severe consequences. In world diplomacy, an ultimatum is issued only by those who have the power to enforce it.

The US and Russia and organisations such as the UN, European Union and NATO have in recent history issued ultimatums to weaker nations and have carried out sanctions for non-compliance. Any ultimatum that appears patently unenforceable, such as one issued by AU to the military in Burkina Faso, is more likely to be treated with contempt.

Lt Col Zida (the President of Burkina Faso as he loves to be addressed) knows very well that the Constitution of his nation stipulates clearly how to appoint a President when the incumbent vacates his post. He also knows that the AU Charter has a clause of non-interference in the affairs of member nations.

If all members of the AU are very clear on these conditions, then any effort to assist Burkina Faso to resolve her internal leadership crisis should be mediatory and not cast in the form of suspension from the African body. But that was exactly what they did by waving sanction in the face of the Burkina military.

Thus fittingly, Lt Col Zida retorted: “Sanction is not my concern; I’m concerned with peace and stability.” Put simply, those who think the Burkina military is prepared to hand power over to a civilian government in two weeks are deluding themselves.

Burkina Faso people power What happened in Burkina Faso was not a coup d’etat where a bunch of officers conspired to topple a government and install themselves as a ruling junta. No one is unaware of the complex series of events including near-mutiny of the security forces and civilian rioting that had plagued the nation for some few years. The ruling class of Blaise Campaore and the political party that buttressed his rule had been firmly in control till “people power” forced the President into exile.

There was anarchy because a power vacuum had been created. The military could not do otherwise but to step in. After all, it is their duty to defend peace and stability. Until this is assured, why is the military being hurried to hand over power to a civilian head in two weeks? Burkina politics is quite simple but complex.

There are three major political parties and a proliferation of some 33 affiliations and entangling alliances. In the mix is a very restive civil society. Until the riot, the Congress for Democracy and Progress, the party that supported President Compaore, had been the dominant one.

Return to civilian rule The Blueprint for returning the country to civilian rule does not seem to recognise the dominant Compaore factor in Burkina politics of the past three decades. That is why a proposed 90-seat transitional parliament is to be constituted as follows: Military (10), Opposition (40), Civil Society (30).

Other parties and Compaore’s allies were allocated only 10 seats. The bone of contention is how the force which had propped Compaore for over 20 years could be marginalised with only 10 seats. Is it a form of punishment for supporting Compaore? These numbers will continue to be keenly contested at the ongoing negotiations.

Another bone of contention is that those who will participate in the transitional government are disqualified from contesting future elections. If we assume that those who have seats in the transitional parliament are the ones with power bases, then where are the leaders for Burkina after the transition?

The ECOWAS mission to Burkina, led by President Mahama, that toted the sanction whip seemed to have failed to move Lt Col Zida to agree to hand power over to an interim civilian government in two weeks. Another mission headed by the President of the AU in the person of President Mohammed Ould Abdel Azziz of Mouritania has had its try. His message was mediatory: “I have not come to enforce sanctions. I’m here to assist the people find their own solutions.” Well said.

Just leaders Sanctions may have worked elsewhere but in the current circumstance no imposition is a solution for peace and stability. It is hoped that very cool heads participate in the negotiations. And it is the prayer of the whole of Africa that at the end of it all, the Land of the Just does get just leaders.

Neither military personalities who have moulted their skins and slipped into the garbs of politicians, nor the impudent, grabby breed of politicians ridiculed in the book titled “This is our time to eat” are welcome.

It is said that a nation gets the leader she deserves. There has to be a clear departure from the past when an electorate that had voted unfailingly for Compaore in four elections turned around to visit mayhem on the nation for their own poor choice. Did they not trust their electoral system? Who designed it?