Burkina Faso’s government officials on Monday announced that Michel Kafando, a diplomat, has been selected asBurkina Faso’s interim president until 2015. Kafando, one of four candidates, was chosen after hours of negotiation.
“The consensus candidate is Michel Kafando,” said IgnaceSandwidi, a representative of the Catholic Church, which was involved in the discussions to find a new leader.
Kafando, 72, served as the country’s ambassador to the United Nations from 1998 to 2011. Before that, he was Burkina Faso’s foreign affairs minister between 1981 and 1982.
The Diplomat, who was selected by a committee of 23 officials, was chosen among other candidates, who includedCherifSy, a journalist and sociologist and Josephine Ouedrogo, ex-Minister.
His appointment comes ahead of a deadline imposed by the African Union, AU, which instructed the country to establish interim institutions and pick an interim president by Monday or face sanctions.
Elections are expected to hold in November 2015 in order to return to civilian rule after long-time ruler BlaiseCompaore was ousted in October this year.
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