“Members of the RSP burst into the room of the cabinet of ministers and took hostage the president of Burkina Faso, the head of state, Michel Kafando, the prime minister, Yacouba Isaac Zida, and the minister of public administration… and the minister of housing”, Moumina Cheriff Sy, the head of the transitional parliament, said in a statement.
Advertisement
Private station Radio Omega said on Twitter its service was cut off and journalists’ motorbikes set ablaze, but it did not say by who.
Blaise Compaore, who ruled for 27 years, fled the country amid unrest a year ago.
A transitional government has been charged with running the poverty-stricken Sahel nation country until presidential and legislative elections are held, the first round of which is to take place on October 11. They also voiced support for Burkina Faso’s transition back to democracy at the Oct. 11 polls.
“This is a serious assault on the republic and its institutions”, said Sy. While Burkina Faso has largely been spared from extremist violence, a Romanian national was abducted in April, and a Mali-based jihadi group claimed responsibility.
Members of the military showed up at the presidential offices Wednesday afternoon and barred the transitional leaders from leaving, Achille Tapsoba, who works at the presidency, told The Associated Press.
But there have been tensions over the vote because members of Compaore’s party have been declared ineligible.
Another chief source of tension has been an ongoing dispute between the transitional officials and the country’s elite Presidential Security Regiment.
Then on Monday, a truth and reconciliation commission released a report again calling for the disbanding of the unit.
Advertisement
The interim president of Burkina Faso, Michel Kafando (center), leaves with Prime Minister Lt. Col. Isaac Zida (second left) after his inauguration ceremony in the capital Ouagadougou on Nov. 21, 2014. He said four people are being held prisoner, including the president and prime minister.
