“We condemn any attempts by the military or other parties to take advantage of the situation for unconstitutional gain and call on all parties to respect the people's support for the democratic process,” she said in a statement released late Friday.
While he was respected on the international stage, critics noted that, under Compaore's semi-authoritarian rule, the country of 18 million people remained mired in poverty. The landlocked country's fortunes rise and fall with gold and cotton prices—and adequate rain in a region plagued by drought.
Compaore's exit will have significance throughout the region, where many leaders have pushed through constitutional changes to prolong their rule and others are attempting to, said Africa expert Philippe Hugon.
“It's obvious that what happened will have an echo in other countries,” said Hugon of the Institute for Strategic and International Relations.
In the end, Compaore was pushed from power by violent protests and an emboldened opposition that would accept nothing short of his resignation.
“I declare that I'm leaving power,” Compaore said in a statement. “For my part, I think I have fulfilled my duty.”
Thousands of opposition protesters gathered Friday in a square in the capital and burst into cheers when they heard the announcement of his resignation on hand-held radios.
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