By John Ikani
Soldiers in Burkina Faso on Monday announced on state television that they have seized power in the West African country following a mutiny over the civilian president’s failure to contain an Islamist insurgency.
A junior officer, Capt. Sidsore Kaber Ouedraogo announced the suspension of the constitution, the dissolution of the government and parliament, and the closure of the country’s borders from midnight Monday, reading from a statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba.
According to Ouedraogo, the Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration “has decided to assume its responsibilities before history.” He cited the deteriorating security situation amid the deepening Islamic insurgency and the president’s inability to manage the crisis.
He said the new Patriotic Movement for Preservation and Restoration (MPSR) would re-establish “constitutional order” within a “reasonable time”, adding that a nationwide nightly curfew would be enforced.
One of the coup leaders told CNN that the president had signed his resignation and that he was being kept in a “safe place” in the West African country.
It was not immediately known where President Roch Marc Christian 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.”
The military coup is the third of its kind in West Africa in the last 18 months, creating upheaval in some of the countries hardest hit by Islamic extremists attacks.
Gunfire erupted early Sunday when soldiers took control of a major military barracks in the capital, Ouagadougou. In response, civilians rallied in a show of support for the rebellion but were dispersed by security forces firing tear gas. Burkina Faso has seen a series of anti-government protests as anger has mounted over the handling of the Islamic insurgency.
In the 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.”
Reactions and Condemnation
Meanwhile, the Federal Government of Nigeria said it has received with grave concern, reports of the coup d’état.
The Nigerian govt in a statement signed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Francisca K. Omayuli strongly condemned the overthrow of the democratically elected government of President Roch Marc Kabore and his detention.
“This unfortunate development not only subverts the constitutional order of the country, but also seeks to further destabilise the peace efforts in the ECOWAS sub-region,” it said.
“This unconstitutional change of government is unacceptable. Nigeria, therefore, calls for the immediate release of President Marc Christian Kabore and other members of his government being detained, as well as an immediate return to the status quo ante.”
More reactions and condemnation are expected from regional bloc ECOWAS and neighbouring countries.
