Military coup in Burkina Faso, army sacks president, suspends constitution
The military authorities in Burkina Faso have officially announced the overthrow of the government of President Roch Kaboré who had earlier on Sunday been detained by rebel soldiers.
Media reports had on Sunday said that a few days before Kaboré’s detention, some soldiers were arrested for allegedly attempted coup d’etat.
The junta which goes by the name Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR) late on Monday announced the military takeover on State television, signed by Lieutenant-Colonel, Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, and read by Captain Sidsore Kaber Ouedraogo.
Ouedraogo announced sweeping changes which included the detention of President Kabore, the suspension of the nation’s constitution, the closing of borders, the dissolution of the government, and the National Assembly, among others.
The junta stressed that the reason for the overthrow of the government was to end President Kaboré’s presidency which was fraught with worsening security challenges and growing Islamic Insurgency coupled with the inability of the President to tackle, contain, and manage the crisis.
“Ouedraogo said: “MPSR, which includes all sections of the army, has decided to end President Kaboré’s post today.
“The constitution has been suspended.
“Secondly, the government has been dissolved.
“Thirdly, the national assembly has been dissolved.
“Fourthly, land and air borders have been closed from January 24, 2022.
“Lastly, a curfew has been imposed from 9pm to 5am.”
The military which maintained that the overthrow was bereft of violence, and that those detained were in a safe location, promised to return the country to constitutional order after having consultations in various parts of the country within a reasonable time.
The unrest comes a week after 11 soldiers were arrested for allegedly plotting a coup.
But discontent has been growing in Burkina Faso over the government’s failure to defeat an Islamist insurgency in the country since 2015.
That escalated to new highs in November, when 53 people, mainly members of the security forces, were killed by suspected jihadists.
And on Saturday, a banned rally to protest against the government’s perceived failure led to dozens of arrests.
Periscope International recalls that Similar troubles in neighbouring Mali had led to a military coup in May, 2021, which was broadly welcomed by the public.
On Sunday, Defence Minister Gen Barthélémy Simporé had downplayed rumours of the president’s capture, and the the unrest, while State television described the sound of gunfire at military barracks as “the actions of a small few disgruntled soldiers rather than a widespread fight or coup attempt.”
