The European Parliament adopted by 627 votes to 10, with 47 abstentions, a resolution on the political crisis in Burkina Faso.
The text adopted in plenary was tabled as a joint EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA, ECR, The Left groups and Members.
On 24 January 2022, the military of Burkina Faso, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba and the self-proclaimed Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR), toppled the elected government headed by President Kaboré.
Since the coup, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré has been detained by the armed forces. According to the MPSR, the coup was in response to the deteriorating security situation in the country. Escalating violence has resulted in the situation in Burkina Faso becoming one of the fastest-growing displacement and protection crises in the world, with at least 1.6 million people having been displaced.
Members condemned and expressed its concern about the coup perpetrated by the armed forces against the democratically elected Government of Burkina Faso. It stressed that an urgent return to constitutional order is imperative, including an immediate return to civilian government.
The resolution also expressed firm support for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union in their efforts to mediate this crisis. It called on the international community to continue to maintain their dialogue with the Burkinabe authorities to ensure a timely and democratic transition to a civilian-led government.
Parliament called for:
- the immediate and unconditional release of President Kaboré and all other government officials;
- inclusive and transparent elections as soon as possible;
- a true and honest national dialogue, involving all sectors of civil society to outline a clear future vision for Burkinabe democracy;
- increased protection and support for human rights defenders in Burkina Faso, and where appropriate, facilitate the issuing of emergency visas, and to provide temporary shelter in the EU Member States.
The Commission, the EEAS and the Member States are urged to continue prioritising support to judicial and security sector reform in Burkina Faso to ensure that sufficient resources and technical assistance are provided for a root-and-branch reform of the security sector, transparent and constructive cooperation between a civilian government and the military, and renewed efforts to tackle corruption.
The EU and its Member States are called on to increase financial support and humanitarian aid in order to meet the urgent needs of the people of Burkina Faso, and in particular those of displaced persons and refugees in neighbouring countries. They should also live up to their international obligations to apply a thorough check and tracing system in their exports of weapons to non-EU countries so as to avoid their misuse and the fuelling of human rights violations.
While stressing that terrorism and instability across the Sahel region are challenging and undermine democratic consolidation and the rule of law, Members stressed that tackling the underlying causes of extremism and military efforts to restore government control across the region are essential to reinforcing the popular legitimacy of democratically elected governments.
Lastly, Parliament urged the Member States and the international community to increase their humanitarian assistance to Burkina Faso, in particular through the provision of food, water and medical services.