Michel Kafando, born on August 18, 1942, in Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso), is a Burkinabé diplomat and politician who served as the President of Burkina Faso during its transition period from November 2014 to September 2015. Kafando's political career spans decades of public service, marked by his extensive diplomatic work and his leadership during a critical phase in Burkina Faso's history.

Kafando studied in Paris, earning a degree in political science and international relations from the University of Paris, as well as a law degree. He also attended the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris and earned a diploma from the École nationale d'administration (ENA), one of France’s prestigious graduate schools. These qualifications prepared him for a prominent role in both national and international politics.

In the 1980s, Kafando became Burkina Faso's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), a position he held from 1981 to 1982 and again from 1998 to 2011. During his diplomatic career, he gained significant experience in international diplomacy and governance. In addition to his role at the UN, Kafando also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso from 1982 to 1983 under the regime of Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo.

Kafando's diplomatic reputation and experience made him a suitable candidate to lead Burkina Faso during a time of national crisis. Following the popular uprising in October 2014, which ousted long-time President Blaise Compaoré after 27 years in power, the country faced political uncertainty. To stabilize the nation and guide it through the transition to democratic elections, a transitional government was established, and Kafando was appointed as the interim President on November 17, 2014. His role was to oversee the transition process, ensuring a peaceful and democratic transfer of power.

However, Kafando's presidency was disrupted by a coup attempt in September 2015, led by elements of the Presidential Security Regiment (RSP), loyal to Compaoré. He was briefly detained during the coup but was reinstated as President following the intervention of the military, which supported the transitional government. Kafando remained in office until the successful organization of elections in November 2015, after which Roch Marc Christian Kaboré was elected as the new President of Burkina Faso.

After leaving office, Kafando continued his involvement in international diplomacy. In 2017, he was appointed by the UN Secretary-General as the Special Envoy for Burundi, tasked with addressing the ongoing political crisis in the East African nation.

Michel Kafando’s legacy lies in his commitment to diplomacy and his leadership during Burkina Faso’s crucial transition period. His calm and steady approach during times of political turbulence has earned him respect both domestically and internationally.

REFERENCE:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Kafando