Burkina Faso's junta chief sworn in as president

Burkina Faso strongman Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba has been inaugurated as president, just over three weeks after he led a coup to topple elected head of state Roch Marc Christian Kabore. 

In a televised ceremony, Damiba on Wednesday swore an oath before the country's top constitutional body to "preserve, respect, uphold and defend the Constitution", the nation's laws and a "fundamental act" of key decisions approved by the junta. 

Damiba was dressed in camouflage uniform and a red beret, and wore a sash in the colours of Burkina's national flag. 

The press, but no foreign representatives, attended the ceremony in a small room at the offices of the Constitutional Council. 

On January 24, Damiba, 41, led disgruntled officers to force out Kabore following public anger over his handling of a bloody jihadist insurgency. 

READ MORE: West Africa and the ‘vicious cycle’ of coups

'Roles for a transitional period'

Last week, the Constitutional Council formally determined that Damiba was president, head of state and supreme commander of the armed forces.

The move confirmed an announcement by the junta on January 31 that Damiba would be appointed to those roles for a transitional period, and be assisted by two vice presidents.

The junta suspended the constitution immediately on taking power on January 24, but later reversed this in the face of pressure from neighbours in West Africa demanding a return to civilian rule.

On February 5, the junta announced that a 15-member commission would be tasked with "drawing up a draft charter and agenda, together with a proposal for the duration of the transition period."

Burkina Faso has been suspended from West African bloc ECOWAS, although it has so far escaped further sanctions, unlike Guinea and Mali. It has also been suspended by ECOWAS, the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States.

Burkina Faso is one of the world's poorest countries and one of the most volatile in Africa.

The landlocked Sahel state has experienced repeated coups since gaining independence from France in 1960.