UNITED NATIONS (AFP) – The United Nations (UN) Security Council expressed “serious concern” on Wednesday over Burkina Faso’s “unconstitutional change of government” last month, but chose not to describe it as a military coup or even condemn it outright.
After negotiations diplomatic sources called difficult, the council unanimously adopted their formal declaration, which “took note” of Burkina Faso’s suspension from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) “until there is swift and effective restoration of constitutional order by the military authorities”.
An earlier version of the document, which AFP obtained, called on the junta to “facilitate the rapid return of constitutional order” in Burkina Faso, but that request was removed by Russia, according to a diplomat who requested to remain anonymous.
In the adopted declaration, the 15-member Security Council does however call for the “release and protection of President Roch Marc Christian Kabore and other government
officials”.
