A political crisis in Burkina Faso emerged as military of the country declared a coup, just weeks before national elections aiming to complete the transition of the country back to democracy.
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The interim government failed to establish a “democracy based on consensus”, the military official said on national television.
The announcment comes after AP reported that armed forces personnel assigned to protect the president had arrested the transitional head of state and prime minister.
He was an adviser to former President Blaise Compaore, who stepped down under pressure by protesters in 2014 after ruling for 27 years.
A curfew is in place across the country from 7pm (8pm BST) until 6am tomorrow and land and air borders have been closed.
President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Yacouba Zida, as well as a number of cabinet ministers, were detained by the guard on Wednesday.
On Thursday, soldiers fired warning shots to disperse a crowd of more than 100 people gathered in the central Independence Square to protest against the presidential guard.
Their transitional authority was due to hand power to a new government after elections on 11 October.
The leader of a coup d’etat in Burkina Faso told a French magazine today that the interim president and prime minister who have been arrested were in good health and would be released. “The Secretary-General calls for their immediate release”, a United Nations spokesman said in a statement on Wednesday.
Speaking on state TV and radio early Thursday, Lt. Col. Mamadou Bamba said the country’s transitional government was dissolved and the interim president was no longer in power.
Ban on Thursday condemned “in the strongest terms” the coup led by a close ally of toppled ex-leader Blaise Compaore and warned that those responsible for any bloodshed would face justice.
“The Kingdom of Morocco supports efforts of the ECOWAS aimed at helping Burkina Faso to return to peace and stability”, added the Ministry.
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Meanwhile there have been local and worldwide reactions to the coup, Moumina Cheriff Sy, the speaker of the transitional parliament, called the coup “a blow to the republic and its institutions”. Ending his 27-year rule, Compaore handed power over to the military.
