On Wednesday, Isaac Zida, a lieutenant colonel who had temporarily led Burkina Faso after the ouster of the West African country's longtime leader, was named prime minister of a transitional government there, Voice of America reported.

The decision comes a day after Michel Kafando, a former U.N. ambassador, had become transitional president, according to the Associated Press. Kafando's swearing in was seen as a return to civilian rule and a first step toward constitutional order.

On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department on Tuesday voiced its support for Kafando.

"The United States congratulates the people of Burkina Faso and their leaders on the signing of a charter that will guide the transition to a democratically elected government," it said in a statement.

Even at Kafando's inauguration, however, "many ... shouted support for ... Zida, who had been named by the military as transitional leader after longtime President Blaise Compaore fled to Ivory Coast," AP noted.

The African Union and other international organizations had threatened sanctions against Burkina Faso unless the military returned power there to a civilian government, according to Voice of America. That apparently led to Kafando's designation; the continental body, which consists of 54 African nations, has yet to react to the appointment of the lieutenant colonel as prime minister.

The country's 27-year president, Blaise Compaoré, stepped down and went into exile last month after violence erupted in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou. Protesters had opposed Compaoré's efforts to change the constitution in order to seek another term in office, AP said.

"The images of flames and black smoke set off alarm about the future of what had been one of West Africa's more stable countries," the news service detailed. "The military swiftly stepped in and briefly installed martial law."

As members of the transitional government, both Kafando and Zida will be barred from running in presidential elections set to be held next year, Voice of America reports.

Kafando, meanwhile, stressed that his main objective was to return Burkina Faso to constitutional order.

"We must always respect the Constitution, with humility, because the power that I hold is that of the people," the interim president said, according to AP.

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