Return to civilian rule plan adopted in Burkina Faso

Opposition parties, civil society groups and religious leaders have adopted a plan for a transitional authority to guide Burkina Faso to elections, after a popular uprising forced long time President Blaise Compaore from power.

The charter agreed on Sunday after days of talks in the capital Ouagadougou, is due to be presented to interim leader Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida this week.

Military representatives did not participate in the negotiations.

The document calls for the creation of a 90-member transitional Parliament with 10 military representatives, 40 from the opposition and 30 from civil society.

The remaining 10 seats will be allocated to other parties, including President Compaore's former political allies, who did not take part in the talks.

An interim government is proposed, whose 25 members will not be permitted to stand in Presidential and Legislative elections expected to take place late next year.

The document also calls for the creation of a special college to choose a transitional President to prepare the grounds for elections next year. 

The body would include seven members from the military, 15 each from the political parties and civil society, and eight religious and traditional leaders.

NEWS24