West African mediators head to Burkina Faso following coup

Soldiers loyal to Capt. Ibrahim Traore are cheered in the streets of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022. Burkina Faso's new junta leadership is calling for calm after the French Embassy and other buildings were attacked. [AP]

Regional mediators went to Burkina Faso on Monday, October 3, in the wake of the West African country's second coup this year amid concern the latest power grab could further postpone elections and deepen the region's Islamic extremist violence.

News that the delegation from the regional bloc known as Ecowas was travelling to the capital, Ouagadougou, came after diplomats confirmed that Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba had left for the neighbouring nation of Togo following talks mediated by religious leaders.