Greece’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said it is “following developments in Burkina Faso with great concern,” in an announcement posted on its official website on Wednesday.
“We condemn the overthrow of President-elect Roch Kaboré and we call for the immediate restoration of constitutional order,” the ministry statement said, adding: “the broader Sahel region and West Africa in general affect the security of all Europe.”
“Greece is playing a constructive role in promoting stability in the region, as evidenced by Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias’ recent visits to Ghana and Nigeria, as well as the opening of a Greek Embassy in Senegal and the appointment of the Greek Ambassador to Dakar as the Foreign Ministry’s Special Envoy for the Sahel,” the statement concluded.
READ MORE: Greece’s opening to Africa – What Dendias aims for.
Meanwhile, the West African bloc ECOWAS will meet virtually on Friday to discuss the crisis in Burkina Faso, where army officers have deposed President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, the group said.
The 15 member Economic Community of West African States, which includes Burkina Faso, had already condemned Monday’s coup, which came amid deepening anger about Kaboré’s response to violence by armed groups.
A source in the deposed president’s party said earlier that Kaboré “is physically well” and was being held by the army in a villa, the AFP news agency reported.
The 64-year-old was elected in 2015 following a popular revolt that forced out strongman Blaise Compaore.
He was re-elected in 2020. But since last year, he has faced a wave of discontent about armed groups’ attacks that have killed some 2,000 people and forced a million and a half to flee their homes.
On Sunday, mutinies erupted in several army barracks a day after police dispersed banned protests.
On Monday, the army rebels brought the country under the control of the Patriotic Movement for Preservation and Restoration (MPSR), a military government led by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba.
The MPSR has announced the suspension of the constitution and dissolution of the government and parliament with Damiba saying on Monday that it would propose a return to constitutional order “within a reasonable time frame”.
ECOWAS said on Monday that Kaboré was forced to resign under threat and intimidation.
READ MORE: The History and Contributions of the Greeks of Africa.
