Military declare Burkina Faso coup

AFP, OUAGADOUGOU: Burkina Faso’s presidential guard declared a coup yesterday after arresting the interim president and key government figures as the country prepared for its first elections since the overthrow of longtime leader Blaise Compaore.
Lieutenant-Colonel Mamadou Bamba appeared on national television to declare that a new “National Democratic Council” had put an end “to the deviant regime of transition” and was in talks to form a government leading to “inclusive and peaceful elections”.
General Gilbert Diendere, Compaore’s former chief-of-staff, was appointed head of the council, which announced a nighttime curfew across the west African state, with land and air borders closed until further notice.
Presidential guard members linked to Compaore burst into a cabinet meeting Wednesday and seized acting president Michel Kafando, prime minister Isaac Zida and two ministers.
Zida was an officer in Compaore’s powerful Presidential Security Regiment (RSP) before he toppled his old boss after days of street protests in October 2014.
Shots could still be heard Thursday in the capital Ouagadougou after the arrests triggered immediate street protests outside the presidential palace, where the political leaders were being held.
Revolution Square—the epicentre of protests against Compaore—was empty apart from military patrols, with the streets of the capital also deserted.
Interim parliament speaker Cheriff Sy denounced the takeover and in a interview with Radio France Internationale called on the people to “immediately rise up”.
International condemnation was swift, with the United Nations Security Council and the European Union, one of the main donors to the poverty-stricken country, demanding the release of the country’s transitional leaders.
“This incident is a flagrant violation of Burkina Faso’s constitution and transitional charter,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said.
President Francois Hollande of France—the former colonial power—joined the chorus of disapproval, calling for political order to be restored.
In a joint statement, the UN, African Union and 15-nation Economic Community of West African States demanded “the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages”.
Protesters marching on the presidential palace on Wednesday evening were met with bursts of gunfire, with shooting also heard around the complex Thursday.
Crowds of several hundred shouting “Down with the RSP” gathered with whistles and vuvuzelas near the palace after news of the coup spread, with the headquarters of Compaore’s Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) party ransacked.
An AFP reporter who witnessed the protests said it was impossible to verify if anyone had been wounded.
Sy called the detention of the president and prime minister “a serious attack on the republic”.
“I call on all patriots to mobilise to defend the motherland,” he said, in comments late Wednesday.
Compaore fled into exile in Ivory Coast after a popular uprising triggered by his attempt to extend his 27-year rule.
A transitional government has been charged with running the nation until presidential and legislative elections, which had been due on October 11.
Compaore supporters are banned from standing under a controversial law passed in April that made anyone backing “unconstitutional change” ineligible to run.
Broadcasts by RFI and the private Omega radio station were cut after members of the RSP “burst into the cabinet room at 2:30 pm and kidnapped the President of Burkina Faso Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Isaac Zida, and two ministers (Augustin Loada and Rene Bagoro),” Sy said in a statement to AFP.
Omega boss Alpha Barry told France 24 television that RSP troops had threatened to kill staff if they did not stop transmitting.

Military declare Burkina Faso coup

AFP, OUAGADOUGOU: Burkina Fasos presidential guard declared a coup yesterday after arresting the interim president and key government figures as the country prepared for its first elections since the overthrow of longtime leader Blaise Compaore. Lieutenant-Colonel Mamadou Bamba appeared on national television to declare that a new National Democratic Council had put an end to the deviant regime of transition and was in talks to form a government leading to inclusive and peaceful elections. General Gilbert Diendere, Compaores former chief-of-staff, was appointed head of the council, which announced a nighttime curfew across the west African state, with land and air borders closed until further notice. Presidential guard members linked to Compaore burst into a cabinet meeting Wednesday and seized acting president Michel Kafando, prime minister Isaac Zida and two ministers. Zida was an officer in Compaores powerful Presidential Security Regiment (RSP) before he toppled his old boss after days of street protests in October 2014. Shots could still be heard Thursday in the capital Ouagadougou after the arrests triggered immediate street protests outside the presidential palace, where the political leaders were being held. Revolution Squarethe epicentre of protests against Compaorewas empty apart from military patrols, with the streets of the capital also deserted. Interim parliament speaker Cheriff Sy denounced the takeover and in a interview with Radio France Internationale called on the people to immediately rise up. International condemnation was swift, with the United Nations Security Council and the European Union, one of the main donors to the poverty-stricken country, demanding the release of the countrys transitional leaders. This incident is a flagrant violation of Burkina Fasos constitution and transitional charter, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said. President Francois Hollande of Francethe former colonial powerjoined the chorus of disapproval, calling for political order to be restored. In a joint statement, the UN, African Union and 15-nation Economic Community of West African States demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages. Protesters marching on the presidential palace on Wednesday evening were met with bursts of gunfire, with shooting also heard around the complex Thursday. Crowds of several hundred shouting Down with the RSP gathered with whistles and vuvuzelas near the palace after news of the coup spread, with the headquarters of Compaores Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) party ransacked. An AFP reporter who witnessed the protests said it was impossible to verify if anyone had been wounded. Sy called the detention of the president and prime minister a serious attack on the republic. I call on all patriots to mobilise to defend the motherland, he said, in comments late Wednesday. Compaore fled into exile in Ivory Coast after a popular uprising triggered by his attempt to extend his 27-year rule. A transitional government has been charged with running the nation until presidential and legislative elections, which had been due on October 11. Compaore supporters are banned from standing under a controversial law passed in April that made anyone backing unconstitutional change ineligible to run. Broadcasts by RFI and the private Omega radio station were cut after members of the RSP burst into the cabinet room at 2:30 pm and kidnapped the President of Burkina Faso Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Isaac Zida, and two ministers (Augustin Loada and Rene Bagoro), Sy said in a statement to AFP. Omega boss Alpha Barry told France 24 television that RSP troops had threatened to kill staff if they did not stop transmitting.