Burkina Faso Military Claims To Overthrow President Roch Kabore

OUAGADOUGOUO, KOMPAS.com – Military Burkina Faso on Monday (24/1/2021) said that they had overthrown President Roch Kabore, suspended the constitution, dissolved the government and the national assembly, and closed borders.

The announcement was signed by Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba and read by another soldier on state television.

Through that announcement too, party Burkina Faso militer military said the takeover was carried out non-violently and that the people detained were in a safe location.

Also read: Shots Near Burkina Faso’s Presidential Residence, Coup Allegations Growing Strong

Reported Reuters, Tuesday (25/1/2022), the statement made via television was made on behalf of a previously unheard of entity, namely the Patriotic Movement for Protection and Recovery or in its French acronym MPSR.

“The MPSR, which includes all sections of the army, has decided to terminate the office of President Kabore today,” the statement said.

Regarding the reasons for the coup, the statement alluded to the deteriorating security situation and conditions described as Kabore’s inability to unite the nation and effectively respond to the challenges it faces.

The broadcast of the statement by the Burkina Faso military came after two days of confusion and fear in the capital Ouagadougou, where heavy gunfire broke out in army camps on Sunday (23/1/2022).

Kabore’s whereabouts are unknown on Monday (1/24/2022), after heavy gunfire was heard in the area around his residence at night.

Earlier, Kabore’s party said he survived the assassination attempt, but gave no details.

Also read: Extremist Group Kills 41 Civil Militia in Burkina Faso

Before the statement by the Burkina Faso military emerged, the African Union and the West African bloc (ECOWAS) both condemned the military action they called an attempted coup in Burkina Faso.

The two African regional organizations said they held the Burkina Faso military responsible for Kabore’s safety.

The US State Department on Monday said it was aware of reports that Kabore had been detained by the military and called for his release.

The US State Department added that it was “too soon” to officially characterize developments in the West African country, when asked if Washington was conducting a coup assessment.