By Lougri Dimtalba
OUAGADOUGOU
Michel Kafando was sworn in on Tuesday as Burkinabe interim president in the presence of several judges from the country's constitutional court.
Kafando is to hold the presidency for the next 12 months to prepare for 2015 parliamentary and presidential elections.
"It is my great honor to assume this responsibility, which I accept with all humility and modesty – the modesty of someone who knows he is only here for a transitional period, and who is fully aware that power is for the people," Kafando said in a speech after the swearing-in ceremony.
"The challenge for the incoming government, which will be formed on Thursday, will be to restore confidence among the people of Burkina Faso in matters related to security and development," the head of the Burkinabe constitutional court asserted.
Kafando was chosen from among three nominees by a committee of 23 officials, most of whom were civilians. His competitors for the post were former family minister Josephine Ouedraogo and journalist Cherif Sy.
He served as the country's representative at the UN from 1998 to 2011, and held the post of foreign minister from 1980 to 1982 under former president Saye Zerbo.
Last month, Burkina Faso descended into chaos after former president Blaise Compaore proposed a constitutional amendment that would have allowed him to seek another term in office.
In power since 1987, Compaore was ultimately forced to step down amid massive street protests against the amendment proposal. He has since departed the country with his family to the Ivory Coast.
On November 1, the Burkinabe army named Isaac Zida, who had been second-in-command in Compaore's presidential guard, as new interim president.
The appointment, however, drew the ire of the opposition, which asserted that Compaore had left office as the result of popular pressure rather than a military coup.
On November 3, the African Union gave Zida 15 days to relinquish power to a civilian body.
www.aa.com.tr/en
