President Mahama’s meeting with Lt Col Zida Wednesday morning at the Libya hotel in Ouagadougou
President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in Ouagadougou and met Lt Col Isaac Zida, the military leader of Burkina Faso.
President Mahama together with the presidents of Nigeria and Senegal are in Burkina Faso to press the military for a speedy handover of power to a civilian ruler.
The African Union (AU) has said the army acted unconstitutionally when it took over after President Blaise Compaore was forced to resign on Friday.
The AU on Monday gave the army a two-week deadline. Interim leader Lt Col Isaac Zida later promised to comply.
Mr Compaore quit after mass protests at his bid to extend his 27-year rule.
Representing the West African regional body ECOWAS, the Senegalese President Macky Sall, Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria and Ghana’s John Mahama arrived in the capital Ouagadougou on Wednesday morning.
Graphiconline’s Presidential Correspondent, Kwame Asare Boadu reported that President Mahama has already met with Lt Col Zida and was meeting with his colleague presidents Sall and Jonathan after which they will brief the press.
Boadu reported that President Mahama’s meeting with Lt Col Zida took place at the Libya hotel in Ouagadougou and it lasted for about 15 minutes.
Details are yet to be released but according to Boadu, the facial expression of Lt. Col. Zida as he emerged from the meeting with the President Mahama did not depict a leader happy with developments.
Already ECOWAS has issued a two-week ultimatum to the military leaders to hand over to a transitional team.
President Mahama who is ECOWAS chairman is in the Burkinabe capital to assess the political situation in that country after President Blaise Campaore resigned last Friday.
President Mahama touched down at the airport at 10.15 am but the usual diplomatic protocols accompanying presidential visits were virtually nil, Boadu reported.
The political temperature depicted the period was not opportune for inspection of guard of honour on arrival.
Arriving ahead of President Mahama was Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Macky Sall of Senegal who are supporting the ECOWAS chairman.
A delegation from the African Union, the United Nations and ECOWAS had arrived ahead of the ECOWAS chairman.
Source: Daily Graphic
