Leaders Demand Civilian Rule In Burkina Faso

This comes barely a week after long time ruler Blaise Compaore resigned after pressure from the people.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) trio which included Nigeria's Goodluck Jonathan, Macky Sall of Senegal and Ghana's John Dramani Mahama said they expected the transition period to last up to one year.

The leaders maintained that presidential elections should be held by November 2015.

Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama led the delegation from the West African bloc ECOWAS to help Burkina Faso plot a path to a civilian-led transition after the military named a senior army officer as head of state on Saturday.

President of ECOWAS Kadre Desire Ouedraogo urged the appointment of a suitable distinguished civilian to manage the transition.

The civil society and religious leaders have however rejected a request to name three candidates for the interim presidency saying they needed time.

The visiting West African leaders will now travel to Accra, Ghana for a special ECOWAS summit today that will discuss the situation in Burkina Faso as well as the West African Ebola epidemic.

By Anne Muchiri