Burkina coup leader sworn in as president, promises to fight jihadist insurgency

Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba, leader of the military junta that overthrew Burkina Faso's president in January, at the ceremony to swear him in as head of state, 16 February 2022. © Burkina Faso Presidency Press Service via Reuters

Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was sworn in as Burkina Faso's new president Wednesday, just over three weeks after he led a coup to topple the elected head of state Roch Marc Christian Kabore.

Dressed in a camouflage uniform and wearing a red beret and a sash in the colours of Burkina Faso’s national flag, Damiba swore to "preserve, respect, uphold and defend the Constitution", the nation's laws, and a "fundamental act" of key decisions approved by the junta, which took power on 24 January.