Burkina Faso: Ibrahim Traore Sworn In As Interim President

Ibrahim Traore has been sworn in as interim president of Burkina Faso.

This comes several weeks after Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was removed in a coup.

At the ceremony on Friday, Traore pledged support for a transition leading to elections in July 2024 as he took the oath of office in the capital Ouagadougou.

After taking the oath, Traore said; “We are confronted with a security and humanitarian crisis without precedent.

“Our aims are none other than the reconquest of territory occupied by these hordes of terrorists. Burkina’s existence is in danger."

Damiba was removed from power due to his perceived inability to deal with a worsening armed uprising in the country.

Burkina Faso has witnessed political instability amid anger at failures to stem a seven-year armed uprising that has claimed thousands of lives and driven nearly two million people from their homes.

The United Nations on Thursday also said the humanitarian situation in Burkina Faso has become so dire that some women and children have eaten only leaves and salt for weeks.