( CNN ) -- Burkina Faso 's military chief is now the head of state of the West African nation , after unrest that led to the resignation of President Blaise Compaore . Gen. Honore Nabere Traore said Friday that he has taken over presidential duties and that he will lead the country through a political transition and elections . Faced with violent protests demanding an end to his 27-year rule , Compaore initially dissolved the government but said he would stay in power until elections could be carried out . He changed his mind , and on Friday announced his resignation . Compaore said he stepped down to preserve peace in the country . Traore appealed for calm and called for a return to a normal constitutional process . Security forces , including the military , will continue to maintain order and safety in the country , Traore said . Upon his resignation , Compaore appealed via Twitter for `` free elections to be held in Burkina Faso within 90 days at the most . '' France , the former colonial ruler of what is today Burkina Faso , welcomed the President 's resignation and called for elections to happen quickly . Unrest has gripped Burkina Faso -- a key partner for Western countries in the campaign against Islamist militants -- since protests against Compaore 's government turned violent Thursday . Demonstrators stormed Parliament , setting fire to the building . Compaore had been in office since he took power after a bloody coup in 1987 . The opposition had called for Compaore 's immediate resignation . In Bobo-Dioulasso , the country 's second-largest city , protesters reportedly tore down a statue of Compaore . The incident followed reports of protesters storming the parliament building , where lawmakers were set to vote on a motion to allow Compaore to extend his time in power . Flights in and out of Ouagadougou , the capital , have been suspended , according to the Burkina Faso Embassy in Washington . Embassy personnel told CNN that it was still issuing visas but that there were no flights at the moment . The country was formerly known as the Republic of Upper Volta when it was established in 1958 as a self-governing colony under France . CNN 's Faith Karimi , Pierre Meilhan and Elwyn Lopez contributed to this report .
Burkina Faso 's top military official says he is in charge now . President Blaise Compaore says he resigns . The rebels have been fighting for more than a year to oust the president and his government.