Constitutional order will be restored in Burkina Faso when the conditions are met, said Thursday the head of the junta which took power on Monday in favor of a military coup ", without however specifying an agenda. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba spoke on public television for the first time since he took the lead in the mutiny that overthrew President Roch Marc Kaboré.

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He also explained that his country "needs its partners more than ever", on the eve of a summit of West African states which could lead to sanctions.

“Burkina Faso needs its partners more than ever. This is why I call on the international community to support our country so that it can emerge from this crisis as quickly as possible,” he said.

“The country will continue to respect international commitments”

Dressed in fatigues and a red beret, the new strong man of Burkina spoke standing in front of a desk, during a speech that lasted about fifteen minutes. 

"I know how to understand the legitimate doubts aroused by this break in the normal functioning of the State. But I would like to reassure all the friends of Burkina Faso that the country will continue to respect international commitments, particularly with regard to respect for the rights of Man", indicated Colonel Damiba, specifying that the independence of justice would be "assured". 

A virtual summit of member countries of the Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has strongly condemned this new coup in the region, is to be held on Friday.

As it has done before for two other countries where soldiers have taken power, Mali and Guinea, ECOWAS should suspend Burkina Faso from its authorities and could impose sanctions on the putschists.

Lieutenant-Colonel Damiba paid long tribute to the soldiers and civilian auxiliaries who face the jihadist groups that regularly mourn Burkina Faso in deadly attacks.

"The main priority remains security", he assured, noting that his country was "assailed from all sides by radical armed groups". 

With AFP and Reuters

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