Burkina Faso's new parliament opens month after year's 2nd coup

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – Burkina Faso’s new legislative assembly held its inaugural session on Friday, over a month after the year’s second coup in the troubled West African country.

The military junta led by Capt. Ibrahim Traore, who seized power from Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba on Sep. 30, has appointed 71 members to the assembly from political parties, defense and security institutions, and civil society.

The new members include 11 women and 18 people who were part of the previous parliament from March until the September coup.

Ousmane Bougma, a university law teacher, was elected speaker with 65 votes after his main challenger withdrew from the race.

In his address, Bougma urged lawmakers to exhibit a “sense of responsibility and self-sacrifice.”

He said Burkina Faso is “experiencing the darkest moments in its history” in terms of security, calling on parliamentarians to play their legislative role with “collaboration and patriotic commitment.”

According to official data, more than 1.5 million people were displaced in Burkina Faso as of Aug. 31, while thousands have been killed as violence remains widespread largely due to an insurgency that has spread from Mali over the past decade.

“This heavy task that the people have entrusted us with requires a high sense of responsibility and self-sacrifice. It is up to us to take initiatives to legislate differently while taking into account the aspirations of the people,” said Bougma.

According to the transitional charter, Traore, 34, is to lead Burkina Faso until elections in July 2024.

Roch Marc Christian Kabore, Burkina Faso’s last elected president, ruled the country from 2015 until he was deposed by Damiba in January this year.