ITF general secretary Steve Cotton said: “We applaud the bravery and commitment of our brother and sister trade unionists in Burkina Faso, as they act against this reckless and aggressive military action. We totally condemn this coup, which has overthrown the interim president and the transitional government and which threatens the democratic right of Burkina Faso’s people to vote in the government elections which were due to be held on 11 October.”
He continued: “This coup threatens the country’s stability and raises the real possibility of further deaths. Trade unions in Burkina Faso play an important role in fighting for justice and democracy and are united in wanting to see an immediate end to this coup.”
ITF president Paddy Crumlin added: “We urge the immediate release of interim president Michel Kafando and prime minister Isaac Zida. “
“Ouagadougou is the ITF’s regional centre for the Francophone and Ecowas countries and we are in close contact with our staff there, whose safety is of great concern to us.”
He concluded: “We join the United Nations, African Union and Ecowas in their condemnations of this dangerous and reckless putsch. The junta must step down now before further damage is done to Burkina Faso’s democratic future.”
