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dpa
Geneva
The UN’s human rights office has demanded the restoration of democracy in Burkina Faso after the army overthrew the government, suspended the constitution and closed the West African nation’s borders.
“We urge a swift return to constitutional order,” a spokesperson for UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said on Tuesday in Geneva.
She also called for the army to release democratically-elected President Roch Marc Kaboré and other officials who they detained.
The turmoil in the West African state erupted on Sunday with reports of soldiers at barracks in the capital Ouagadougou and two northern cities staging a mutiny.
The government initially denied that coup was under way and said that everything was under control.
But by Monday afternoon Kaboré had been taken to a military camp and Burkina Faso’s new junta leaders said his government had been overthrown.
Earlier the US State Department and the EU called for the immediate release of Kaboré and other government officials. They also called on all sides to remain calm and seek dialogue, a spokesperson in Washington said, adding that the military should respect the constitution and the civilian leadership of the country.
Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign affairs envoy, made a similar appeal to the military.
Geneva
The UN’s human rights office has demanded the restoration of democracy in Burkina Faso after the army overthrew the government, suspended the constitution and closed the West African nation’s borders.
“We urge a swift return to constitutional order,” a spokesperson for UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said on Tuesday in Geneva.
She also called for the army to release democratically-elected President Roch Marc Kaboré and other officials who they detained.
The turmoil in the West African state erupted on Sunday with reports of soldiers at barracks in the capital Ouagadougou and two northern cities staging a mutiny.
The government initially denied that coup was under way and said that everything was under control.
But by Monday afternoon Kaboré had been taken to a military camp and Burkina Faso’s new junta leaders said his government had been overthrown.
Earlier the US State Department and the EU called for the immediate release of Kaboré and other government officials. They also called on all sides to remain calm and seek dialogue, a spokesperson in Washington said, adding that the military should respect the constitution and the civilian leadership of the country.
Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign affairs envoy, made a similar appeal to the military.
