Shops began to open and traffic was resuming in Ouagadougou, but the presence of soldiers in armoured vehicles and pickup trucks could be felt in certain parts of the sprawling capital city.
African Union slams coup
The African Union chief Moussa Faki Mahamat Saturday slammed the “unconstitutional change of government”.
The AU said in a statement, “The chairperson calls upon the military to immediately and totally refrain from any acts of violence or threats to the civilian population, civil liberties, human rights,” and called for the restoration of the constitution by July, 2024.
The Economic Community of West African States regional bloc “condemned in the strongest possible terms” the latest seizure of power, calling it “inappropriate” at a time when real progress was being made towards constitutional order.
Burkina Faso‘s former colonial ruler France told its citizens in Ouagadougou – believed to number between 4,000 and 5,000 – to stay home
The French embassy in Ouagadougou said France’s army had no involvement in recent events in Burkina Faso in a statement on Saturday. The embassy said it was issuing its statement in response to reports circulating on social media.
UN chief Antonio Guterres on Saturday condemned the officers who seized power and called on all parties to refrain from using violence.
“The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the unfolding developments in Burkina Faso. He strongly condemns any attempt to seize power by the force of arms and calls on all actors to refrain from violence and seek dialogue,” Guterres’ spokesman said in a statement.
The EU expressed “concern” at the unfolding events, and the United States called “for a return to calm and restraint by all actors”.
Soldiers appear on state TV
Just before 8:00pm (2000 GMT) on Friday, more than a dozen soldiers in fatigues appeared on the state television and radio broadcaster to announce the removal of the junta leader Damiba.
They proclaimed 34-year-old Captain Ibrahim Traore in charge. The new leader Traore was previously head of anti-jihadist special forces unit “Cobra” in the northern region of Kaya.
The new leader justified the coup action by stating, “Far from liberating the occupied territories, the once-peaceful areas have come under terrorist control.”
The new “regime” then suspended the constitution, sealed the borders, dissolved the transitional government and legislative assembly and brought in a curfew from 9:00pm to 5:00am.
On Saturday, the officers who seized power in Burkina Faso said in televised comments that toppled junta leader Damiba was planning a counteroffensive from a “French base”.
Damiba “is believed to have taken refuge in the French base at Kamboinsin in order to plan a counteroffensive to stir up trouble in our defence and security forces”, they said in a statement read out on national television and signed by Traore.
France has a contingent of special forces based in Kamboinsin, which is some 30 kilometres (19 miles) from Ouagadougou.
France’s foreign ministry said later Saturday that Damiba has never been hosted at a French army base.
Terrorising region
In the north and east of Burkina Faso, towns have been blockaded by terrorists who have blown up bridges and attacked supply convoys.
Earlier this week, suspected jihadists attacked a convoy carrying supplies to the town of Djibo in the north. The government said 11 soldiers died and around 50 civilians were missing.
As in bordering countries, insurgents affiliated with al Qaeda and the Islamic State group have stoked unrest.
Thousands have died and about 2 million have been displaced by the fighting since 2015 when the insurgency spread to Burkina Faso, which has since become the epicentre of the violence across the Sahel.
With much of the region battling a growing Islamist insurgency, the violence has prompted a series of coups in Mali, Guinea and Chad since 2020.
Junta leader’s fate unclear
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