OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) – The presidential guard that staged a coup in Burkina Faso more than a week ago may be disbanded and disarmed, Burkina Faso’s prime minister said Friday after the government’s first cabinet meeting since it was reinstalled.
Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac Zida, who formerly served as second in command for the presidential guard, said he favored the action immediately. A decision wasn’t formally made, but the government is considering the option, he said.
Members of the presidential guard mounted the coup last week, unhappy that the transitional government had barred supporters loyal to former President Blaise Compaore from contesting in the country’s national election. Compaore was ousted in a popular uprising in October.
President Michel Kafando and Zida were reinstalled as the transitional government on Wednesday. Coup leader Gen. Gilbert Diendere stepped down at the order of regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States, and under pressure from the military and people.
Kafando must now organize an election to install a democratic government in Burkina Faso. The vote was originally scheduled for Oct. 11 – but Zida said Friday the election would be postponed by at least several weeks.