Military announces takeover on live TV, suspends constitution in Burkina Faso

 

The military in Burkina Faso has announced that it has seized power and overthrown President Roch Kaboré.

The announcement, signed by Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, a lieutenant-colonel, was read by another officer on state television on Monday.

This is coming hours after Kaboré was said to have been detained by mutinying soldiers.

Days before Kaboré’s “detention”, some soldiers were reportedly arrested for attempting to overthrow the government.

Speaking on Monday, the soldiers said they have suspended the constitution, dissolved the government and the national assembly.

They also said the country’s borders have been shut and pledged a “return to constitutional order” in a “reasonable time after consultations with various sections of the nation”.

According to the military, the takeover was carried out without violence and those detained were in a secure location.

The statement was made in the name of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration or MPSR, its French language acronym.

Sidsore Kaber Ouedraogo, a captain, said the soldiers were putting an end to Kaboré’s presidency because of the deteriorating security situation amid the deepening Islamic insurgency and the president’s inability to manage the crisis.

“MPSR, which includes all sections of the army, has decided to end President Kaboré’s post today,” he said.

“The constitution has been suspended. Secondly, the government has been dissolved. Thirdly, the national assembly has been dissolved. Fourthly, land and air borders have been closed from January 24, 2022. Lastly, a curfew has been imposed from 9pm to 5am.”

The army broadcast came after two days of chaos in Ouagadougou, the Burkina Faso capital, where soldiers demanded additional backing for their war against Islamist extremists.

The development had caused shootings to erupt at army camps on Sunday.