Coup In Burkina Faso: President, Prime Minister Arrested

On Thursday, September 17, members of Burkina Faso’s presidential guard announced the dissolution of the government on national television, saying President Michel Kafando had been ousted.

President Michel Kafando

People take to the street outside the presidential palace to protest against the coup

These pronouncement was made amid demonstrations against the coup. Also arrested alongside then president was Yacouba Zida, the interim prime minister.

According to a statement by a spokesman for the Presidential Security Regiment, the transitional period that which was due to culminate to the October 11 elections following the fall of president Blaise Compaore in October 2014 has been cancelled.

The military spokesman said the leaders of the coup were seeking negotiations “to form a government which will dedicate itself to restore political order in the country” before elections were held.

Following the coup, endless demonstration in protest against the military take-over has been held across the country.

Witnesses said the demonstrations against the coup continued, with soldiers firing shots to disperse protesters arriving on the central Place de la Revolution, only few injuries were recorded.

Meanwhile there have been local and international reactions to the coup, Moumina Cheriff Sy, the speaker of the transitional parliament, called the coup “a blow to the republic and its institutions”.

He said: “I call on all patriots to gather to defend the motherland”.

Also reacting to the incident, Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations Secretary General, who was furious at the deposition, called for the immediate release of the leaders.

Ban said the overthrow was “a flagrant violation of Burkina Faso’s Constitution and Transitional Charter”.

The United States also called for the immediate release of the interim president, prime minister.

A statement issued by John Kirby, the state department spokesperson read: “The United States strongly condemns any attempt to seize power through extra-constitutional means or resolve internal political disagreements using force”.

It is recalled that Kafando was chosen interim president in November,2014,  after former president Blaise Compaore fled the country following the Burkinabe uprising stirred by his plans to extend his 27-year rule.

Agreements on a transitional period was reached, after Burkina Faso was threatened with sanctions by the African Union.

According to local reports, Soldiers from the Presidential Security Regiment interrupted a parliamentary session on Wednesday, September 16, taking Kafando, Prime Minister Isaac Zida and several other ministers, into custody.

Speculations have it that the presidential guard consisting of 1,300-member  is unsatisfied with plans to dissolve it and integrate it into the military police.

There are rumours that the coup may have been staged only by a part of the presidential guard, loyal to Compaore, the other part is said to be loyal to Zida.

Leaders of the coup are quoted as saying that they were seek “inclusive” elections, indicating their disapproval of a ban which prevented Compaore loyalists from contesting the elections set for October 11.

However, some say that the coup may have also taken place as a ploy to ensure that soldiers are not being put on trial for involvement in repression of the opposition in the Compaore era.

source: BBC; Edited by OccopioView.