Burkina Faso coup: Gunshots in capital and roads blocked

Last updated Oct 2, 2022

Burkina Faso’s self-declared leader says the man he ousted a day ago in a coup is plotting a counter-attack.

Col Ibrahim Traoré also accused the French army of harboring Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba at one of its bases – but France denies any involvement.

Gunshots were heard in Burkina Faso’s capital city Ouagadougou on Saturday and helicopters have circled overhead.

Protesters started a fire outside the French embassy – an attack condemned “with the greatest firmness” by Paris.

The French foreign ministry said that the security of its compatriots was the greatest priority, adding that a crisis center had been opened in Ouagadougou.

Earlier, witnesses said troops blocked main roads around the city and shops that had been open were later shut.

In the country’s second city, Bobo-Dioulasso, the gate of the French Institute was also reportedly set ablaze by protesters.

Friday’s apparent takeover had been announced on national TV and was the second time this year that the country’s army had seized power.

On both occasions, the coup leaders said they had to step in because national security was so dire.

Burkina Faso controls as little as 60% of its territory, experts say, and Islamist violence is worsening. Since 2020 more than a million people have been displaced in the country due to the violence.

The African Union has demanded the return of constitutional order by July 2023 at the latest, agreeing with the regional group Ecowas that the ousting of leader Lt Col Damiba was “unconstitutional”.

Ecowas earlier said it was “inappropriate” for army rebels to seize power when the country was working towards civilian rule.

The latest international criticism has come from the UN, whose chief António Guterres says he “strongly condemns” the coup.

For the second time in under 24 hours, the coup leaders have issued a statement on national TV, signed by their leader Col Ibrahim Traoré.

This time they claimed Lt Damiba was planning a counter-attack because of their own willingness to work with new partners in their fight against the Islamists. The statement did not name these potential new partners, but rights groups say troops in neighboring Mali have been working closely with Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group – although both nations deny this.

On Friday evening flanked by rebel soldiers in fatigues and black facemasks, an officer had read an announcement on national TV stating that they were kicking out Lt Damiba, dissolving the government, and suspending the constitution.

Agencies