In a statement signed on Monday by Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba and read on the state broadcasting television by Captain Sidsore Kader Ouedraogo, Burkina Faso’s military announced that the president, Roch Marc Kaboré, had been removed from office.
The army further stated that the constitution had been suspended, that the government and parliament had been dissolved, and that both land and air travel, including border control, had been closed, signaling a coup.
The army announced that the coup was carried out without violence and that those detained were being held in a secure place. The group also revealed that the coup was carried out by an unknown entity known as the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR).
The statement added, “MPSR, which includes all sections of the army, has decided to end President Kaboré’s post today.”
The MPSR also announced an overnight curfew and the closing of land and air borders as a result of the deterioration of security in the West African country, which has been plagued by jihadist violence.
Burkina Faso has become one of Africa’s most recent successful military coups, following similar power grabs in Guinea, Mali, and Chad in the previous year, amid rising jihadist and political instability in various West African countries and the Sahel region.
Looming Coup: How It All Started
The turmoil comes less than a week after 11 soldiers were detained on suspicion of organizing a coup.
Roch Marc Kaboré was arrested and jailed by troops prior to the coup, a move that was denounced by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) but applauded by protestors in the capital.
The people of Burkina Faso had lost faith in the Kaboré government, angered at terrorist groups’ repeated attacks, including a November attack that killed 48 military police officers and four civilians, rekindling protests and resentment at the government.
A banned protest to oppose the government’s apparent failure resulted in dozens of arrests on Saturday.
The mutinous troops in an attempt to create peace asked the governing body that military officials be fired and that greater resources be allocated to combating Islamist insurgents a demand that the government has yet to meet leading to crises on Sunday.
Hundreds of people demonstrated in solidarity with the soldiers on Sunday, with some setting fire to the ruling party’s headquarters.
Since then, a nighttime curfew has been established.
After gunfire was heard at multiple military barracks on Sunday, initial claims of a troop mutiny surfaced, but the coup was denied by the serving military under the government.
On Sunday, the defense minister, Gen Barthelemy Simporé, stated on national television that the insurrection had affected none of the republic’s institutions.
On Sunday, as reports of the shooting spread, demonstrators looted and set fire to Kaboré’s ruling party’s headquarters, while police dispersed demonstrations in favor of a potential coup staged in the city center.
Near the president’s mansion, an armored car belonging to his presidential guard was seen covered in gunshots, and the seats wet in blood on Monday morning. Evidencing the that President has been whisked away by the coup plotters.
ECOWAS Condemned The Coup In Burkina Faso
Ecowas, a West African regional organization, said it “holds the military responsible for the physical wellbeing” of the president and condemned the troop’s outrageous act. “Ecowas condemns this extremely grave act,” the statement added.
“Ecowas asks the military to return to the barracks, to maintain a republican position in favor of dialogue with the authorities to solve these problems.” the statement stated.
“Ecowas is following with great concern the evolution of the political and security situation in Burkina Faso, characterized since Sunday 23 January by an attempted coup d’etat.” says the organization.