Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ouagadougou (Agenzia Fides) - Over the last two days demonstrations were held in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso, respectively the capital and the second city of Burkina Faso, to demand the abolition of the Presidential Security Regiment (RGP), the "praetorian guard" of former President Blaise Compaore, forced to resign and exile following a popular revolt (see Fides 31/10/2014). The RGP in recent days had asked for the resignation of the Prime Minister of transition, Isaac Zida, who in December had requested the dissolution of the RGP.
The crisis defused after Zida had promised that he would give up asking the dissolution of the RGP, and had at the same time announced the formation of a "committee of reflection" to define the role and new powers, in addition to the new name, of the regiment that according to Zida, will no longer be exclusively dedicated to the protection of the Head of State.
In several African countries, the presidential guard is a separate body from the rest of the armed forces. The role of the presidential guard is to check the rest of the armed forces in order to prevent any military coups.
In the democratic transition undertaken by Burkina Faso, in the eyes of the citizens the RGP has no reason to exist. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 09/02/2015)
