Deadly violent protests erupted early yesterday in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, sequel to the coup staged on Wednesday by officers of the Presidential Guard in Burkina Faso.
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The Pretoria statement says the military power grab is a serious violation of Burkina Faso’s constitution.
“The patriotic forces, grouped together in the National Council for Democracy, have decided today to put an end to the deviant transitional regime“, the military official said on RTB state television. Coup members later declared General Gilbert Diendéré the new leader until “inclusive and peaceful” elections can be held.
Yacouba Ouedraogo, a BBC reporter, said there is heavy shooting at the main square in Oaugadougou, capital of the country. Gunfire echoed through the capital, Ouagadougou, while troops patrolled the streets.
-Interim parliament speaker Cheriff Sy told French radio station RFI that a coup was clearly in progress, and called on the people to rise up in protest and defence of their nation’s democracy.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the European Union (EU) have condemned the leaders’ detention and called for their immediate release. “This reversal has worrying implications for other countries on the brink of national elections”.
Femi Anjorin. Outrage has continued to greet the military take-over of the government in the tiny West African country of Burkina Faso. He said the coup had the full backing of the regular army and he pledged not to interfere in legal cases against Compaore and former members of his entourage.
The African Union had threatened the small landlocked country with sanctions unless Compaore handed over power to civilians and political parties agreed on a transitional plan in the run-up to the November elections, according to South Africa’s News24.
Interestingly, the duo’s transitional authority was due to hand power to a new government after elections on October 11.
The communique also said that the land and air borders were now closed, and that a curfew would be in effect from 7 p.m.to 6 a.m.
The move came two days after a commission charged with drafting reforms for Burkina Faso’s transitional government proposed dismantling the elite unit.
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Protesters toppled Compaore previous year after he expressed a desire to extend his 27-year rule.
