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Wednesday 26 November 2014 - 07:58

Protests force minister to resign from interim Burkinabe govt.

Story Code : 421441
Burkinabe interim President Michel Kafando (front row, 3rdR) and new Prime Minister Lt. Col. Yacouba Isaac Zida (3rdL) pose with other government members for a picture following their first cabinet meeting in the capital Ouagadougou on November 24, 2014.
Burkinabe interim President Michel Kafando (front row, 3rdR) and new Prime Minister Lt. Col. Yacouba Isaac Zida (3rdL) pose with other government members for a picture following their first cabinet meeting in the capital Ouagadougou on November 24, 2014.
Culture and Tourism Minister Adama Sagnon tendered his resignation on Tuesday, only two days after his appointment to the country’s 26-member interim government.
 
Sagnon, seen as close to former President Blaise Compaoré, stepped down after two days of protests in front of his ministry accusing him of not doing enough to investigate the mysterious murder of prominent investigative journalist, Norbert Zongo, in 1998.
 
Compaoré was forced to step down on October 31, following two days of mass protests against his attempts to change the constitution to extend his rule for a fifth term.
 
Lieutenant Colonel Yacouba Isaac Zida assumed power after the former president’s resignation. Zida then bowed to African Union pressure to hand power back to a civilian ruler.
 
On October 23, Burkinabe officials issued a decree and allocated ministerial posts in the interim government, with the military getting the powerful ones.
 
With the exception of Sagnon's appointment, Burkina Faso's political class has expressed satisfaction with the composition of the interim government, drawn from the military, civil society and political parties.
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