Au To Dispatch Joint High-Level Team To Burkina Faso

The African Union (A.U.) has decided to dispatch a joint high-level team to Burkina Faso following a day of violent protests against President Blaise Compaoré's plans to stay in office after 27 years.



"A high-level team will form part of the joint delegation comprising the A.U., the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the United Nations (U.N.)," the pan-African body said in a statement.



It called on stakeholders in Burkina Faso to provide "unflinching support of the A.U. as they look for political solutions to the current difficulties facing their country."



A.U. Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, for her part, called for "restraint" in the African country.



"She has called for calm and utmost restraint from all the parties concerned. She urges the Burkinabe political actors and people to refrain from all acts of violence and act in the supreme interest of their country," the A.U. statement said.



Burkinabe capital Ouagadogou fell into violence on Thursday over a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow Compaore to seek a third five-year term. The current charter limits the number of terms a president can have to two.



Angry protesters set fire to several buildings in the capital, including the parliament headquarters. At least 15 people were reportedly killed in the violence.



Despite the protests, Compaore refused to resign and called for forming a transitional government at the end of which he would hand over power to a democratically elected president.



For several weeks, the 63-year-old leader's bid to remain in power after 27 years at the helm has drawn angry reactions from the opposition, civil society and many young people.



More than 60 percent of Burkina Faso's 17 million-strong population is under 25 years old and has never known a president other than Compaore.



By Abebech Tamene



englishnews@aa.com.tr



www.aa.com.tr/en - Addis Ababa