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Military colonel who seized power in Burkina Faso named as transitional prime minister
Published December 10, 2015
FILE-In this file photo taken Monday, Nov. 3, 2014, Burkina Faso Lt. Col. Issac Yacouba Zida, during a press briefing in the city of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The selection of Lt. Col. Isaac Yacouba Zida as prime minister on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, came just a day after the United States and others praised Burkina Faso for pressing ahead with a civilian transitional government. (AP Photo/Theo Renaut,File) (The Associated Press)
The military colonel who briefly seized control of Burkina Faso after the longtime president stepped down has been chosen to serve as prime minister of the transitional government.
The selection of Lt. Col. Isaac Yacouba Zida on Wednesday as prime minister casts doubt on whether the interim government will actually return the country to civilian rule.
The international community has urged the military to swiftly hand back power and it was not immediately clear whether the African Union will accept an army colonel playing such a pivotal role.
The move comes a day after a longtime diplomat was sworn in as president to lead Burkina Faso to elections in a year's time.
The decree announcing Zida's position was read by Alain Ouattara, the assistant secretary general of the government.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/military-colonel-who-seized-power-in-burkina-faso-named-as-transitional-prime-minister