Congratulations to the people of Burkina Faso

[AndyDufresne]

We haven't had one of these topics for a while. We were over due, so the world delivered.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29851445

Burkina Faso's President Blaise Compaore has announced his resignation, following violent protests at his attempt to extend his 27-year rule.

Mr Compaore issued a statement saying the presidency was now vacant and urging elections within 90 days.

Military chief Gen Honore Traore said he had taken over as head of state "in line with constitutional measures".

...

In a statement, he said: "In line with constitutional measures, and given the power vacuum... I will assume as of today my responsibilities as head of state."

He added: "I undertake a solemn engagement to proceed without delay with consultations with all parties in the country so as to start the process of returning to the constitutional order as soon as possible."

Late on Thursday, he had announced the creation of the transitional government, declared the dissolution of parliament and imposed a night curfew.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/01/world ... paore.html

UAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — After violent protests in which demonstrators set fire to Parliament and surged through the streets in a wave of dissent, Blaise Compaoré, the president of Burkina Faso, said Friday that he had stepped down after 27 years in office, according to news reports from the West African nation.

Reuters reported that a heavily armed convoy carrying the president was seen leaving the capital and heading south toward Po, near the border with Ghana, even as his resignation announcement was being read out on television. It was not clear who would replace him.

The announcement came on the fourth day of turmoil in Ouagadougou, the capital, which culminated in a closed-door gathering of military commanders...

--Andy

[BigBallinStalin]

Military chief Gen Honore Traore said... said: "In line with constitutional measures, and given the power vacuum... I will assume as of today my responsibilities as head of state."

Late on Thursday, he had announced the creation of the transitional government, declared the dissolution of parliament and imposed a night curfew.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/01/world ... paore.html

lolwut.

[Dukasaur]

Military chief Gen Honore Traore said... said: "In line with constitutional measures, and given the power vacuum... I will assume as of today my responsibilities as head of state."

Late on Thursday, he had announced the creation of the transitional government, declared the dissolution of parliament and imposed a night curfew.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/01/world ... paore.html

lolwut.

It's pretty funny. They re-elected him for 33 years, but they went berserk at the idea that he wanted 5 more..

Well, at least something good came out of the fiasco in Libya.

[DoomYoshi]

The United States still hasn't decided whether this is a coup or not.

The plans for a transitional government seem reasonable*; someone in Burkina Faso wants the country to succeed.

*They are checking all the boxes that will enable it to seem like a legitimate transition in power. If the transition is declared a coup, Burkina Faso loses aid dollars, in particular military aid dollars. The military doesn't seem bent on getting rid of its main employer. Those metaphorical checkboxes are something along the lines of:

• Make sure those in power during the transitional government are not eligible to run in the election
• Make sure the transitional government has reasonable representation from the ousted ruler's party (and/or group of allied parties)
• Make sure there is a clear list of rules for the transitional government to follow
• Make sure the transitional government has representation from the non-Political classes
• Make sure nobody in the transitional government has any education in democratic systems, constitution writing, or effective election management. If anybody knew what they were doing, progress might be made. Instead, fill the ranks with rapist Brigadier Generals, patsies from the military towns and empty seats, filled by those invited from the previous government (who know they will be tormented if they actually show up)

All in all, I predict that this will be declared:

show

[DoomYoshi]

Of course, I have no opinion until Fox News tells me what my opinion is.

[BigBallinStalin]

The United States still hasn't decided whether this is a coup or not.

The plans for a transitional government seem reasonable*; someone in Burkina Faso wants the country to succeed.

*They are checking all the boxes that will enable it to seem like a legitimate transition in power. If the transition is declared a coup, Burkina Faso loses aid dollars, in particular military aid dollars. The military doesn't seem bent on getting rid of its main employer. Those metaphorical checkboxes are something along the lines of:

• Make sure those in power during the transitional government are not eligible to run in the election
• Make sure the transitional government has reasonable representation from the ousted ruler's party (and/or group of allied parties)
• Make sure there is a clear list of rules for the transitional government to follow
• Make sure the transitional government has representation from the non-Political classes
• Make sure nobody in the transitional government has any education in democratic systems, constitution writing, or effective election management. If anybody knew what they were doing, progress might be made. Instead, fill the ranks with rapist Brigadier Generals, patsies from the military towns and empty seats, filled by those invited from the previous government (who know they will be tormented if they actually show up)

All in all, I predict that this will be declared:

show

Ah, there it is. Good! Let me patch into the IMF and WB, so the new government can be assured of its current revenue stream. Maybe if the General President says some nice words about working with the UN and supporting previous donor nations, then we'll forgive some debt too. Can't go wrong with that one, and we've always got a bunch of measurements of meaningless outputs about how much progress the aid has done.

Chin up, DY. This is win-win.

[DoomYoshi]

How many non-profits in the capital hired ambidextrous employees is hardly meaningless output!

[BigBallinStalin]

How many non-profits in the capital hired ambidextrous employees is hardly meaningless output!

You got that right! Slam it hard, DY! USAID just brought in 200 tons of rice! BAM! PROGRESS. PERIOD. DEVELOPMENT HERE WE COME!!!