OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso
More than a dozen mutinous soldiers declared Monday on
state television that a military junta had seized control of Burkina Faso after
detaining the democratically elected president following a day of gunbattles in
the capital of the West African country.Apparent new military leader, Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba
The
military coup in a nation that was once a bastion of stability was the third of
its kind in the region in the last 18 months, creating upheaval in some of the
countries hardest hit by Islamic extremist attacks.
Capt.
Sidsore Kaber Ouedraogo said the Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and
Restoration “has decided to assume its responsibilities before history.” The
soldiers put an end to President Roch Marc Christian Kabore’s presidency
because of the deteriorating security situation and the president’s inability
to manage the crisis, he said.
It
was not immediately known where Kabore was, and the junta spokesman said only
that the coup had taken place “without any physical violence against those
arrested, who are being held in a safe place, with respect for their dignity.”
A soldier in the mutiny, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of situation, told The Associated Press that Kabore had submitted his resignation.
The
new military regime said it had suspended Burkina Faso’s constitution and
dissolved the National Assembly. The country’s borders were closed, and a
curfew was in effect from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Ouedraogo
said that the country’s new leaders would work to establish a calendar
“acceptable to everyone” for holding new elections without giving further
details.
After
the televised announcement, crowds took to the streets, cheering and honking
car horns in support of the takeover. People hoped that the coup would ease the
devastation they have endured since jihadist violence spread across the
country.
“This
is an opportunity for Burkina Faso to regain its integrity. The previous regime
sunk us. People are dying daily. Soldiers are dying. There are thousands of
displaced,” said Manuel Sip, a protester in downtown Ouagadougou. The army
should have acted faster in ousting the president, he said.
After the overthrow of strongman Blaise Compaore in 2014, several people told the AP they no longer cared if they had a democratically elected leader. They just wanted to live in peace.
The
communique read aloud on state broadcaster RTB was signed by the country’s
apparent new military leader, Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba. He sat
beside the spokesman without addressing the camera during the announcement.
United
Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on coup leaders to lay down
their arms. He reiterated the U.N.’s “full commitment to the preservation of
the constitutional order” in Burkina Faso and support for the people in their
efforts “to find solutions to the multifaceted challenges facing the country,”
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
The
U.N. chief said the military takeover was part of “an epidemic of coups around
the world and in that region.”
The
U.S. State Department in a statement expressed deep concern about the
dissolution of the government, suspension of the constitution and the detention
of government leaders. “We condemn these acts and call on those responsible to
deescalate the situation, prevent harm to President Kaboré and any other
members of his government in detention, and return to civilian-led government
and constitutional order,” spokesperson Ned Price said.
In
a statement, Kabore’s political party accused the mutinous soldiers of trying
to assassinate the president and another government minister and said the
presidential palace in Ouagadougou remained surrounded by “heavily armed and
hooded men.”
The
coup “is a signal of frustration and exasperation on the heels of a growing
struggle to stem the threat of militants, cope with the degraded security
structure, and an attempt to restore faith in the institution of the military,”
said Laith Alkhouri, CEO of Intelonyx Intelligence Advisory, which provides
intelligence analysis.
Gunfire
erupted early Sunday when soldiers took control of a major military barracks in
the capital. In response, civilians rallied in a show of support for the
rebellion but were dispersed by security forces firing tear gas. On Monday,
groups of people celebrated again in the streets of the capital after reports
of Kabore’s capture.
Kabore
was elected in 2015 after the popular uprising that ousted Compaore. Kabore was
reelected in November 2020, but frustration has been growing at his inability
to stem the jihadist violence. Attacks linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State
group have killed thousands and displaced more than an estimated 1.5 million
people.
The
military has suffered losses since the extremist violence began in 2016. In
December, more than 50 security forces were killed and nine more died in
November.
Mutinous
soldiers told the AP that the government was out of touch with troops. Among
their demands are more forces in the battle against extremists and better care
for the wounded and the families of the dead.
About
100 military members have planned the takeover since August, according to one
of the mutinous soldiers.
The
West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS said in a statement that it was
following events in Ouagadougou with “great concern.” The bloc has already
suspended Mali and Guinea over military coups. Those coup leaders appear in no
hurry to return their countries to civilian rule.
Burkina
Faso has also seen its share of coup attempts and military takeovers, although
it experienced a period of relative stability under Compaore, who ruled for 27
years until his ouster in 2014.
In
1987, Compaore came to power by force. And in 2015, soldiers loyal to him
attempted to overthrow the transitional government put into place after his
ouster. The army was ultimately able to put the transitional authorities back
in power, who led again until Kabore won an election and took office.
Latest
successful coups in AFRICA: Jan 24, 2022 - Burkina Faso Coup Oct 25,
2021 - Sudan Coup Sept 5, 2021 - Guinea Coup May 24, 2021 - Mali Coup April 20,
2021 - Chad Covert Coup August 18, 2020 - Mali Coup April 11, 2019 - Sudan Nov
14, 2017 - Zimbabwe Guardian Coup.
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