Military coup in Burkina Faso; Army ousted President, suspended constitution, dissolved government, national assembly and closed border.
An announcement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba and read by another officer on state television, declared the takeover by the military and people had been detained in the process.
Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, is a former graduate from a military school in Paris. He has a master’s degree in criminology from CNAM in Paris and a defense expert certificate in management, command and strategy. He also published a book in 2021, titled “West African Army and Terrorism, Uncertain Answers?”
The statement was made in the name of a previously unheard of entity, the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration or MPSR, its French language acronym.
“MPSR, which includes all sections of the army, has decided to end President Kabore’s post today,” it said.
Heavy gunfire erupted at army camps on Sunday, with soldiers demanding more support for their fight against Islamist militants, resulting in confusion and fear in the capital of Ouagadougou.
The military declared that President Roch Kabore is ousted, the constitution is suspended; government and national assembly dissolved. The military also closed the border to the country. The junta leaders say that they will hold new elections at an unspecified date.
Some groups of the population celebrated in the streets after reports of Kabore’s capture, whom is allegedly captured and detained “in a safe place” by the military, according to reports from CNN.
The mutiny was sparked by the poor handling of jihadist attacks in the country, following killings of both civilians and soldiers by militants. The military believe that the government is out of touch with troops, and that Burkina Faso would be better off under military rule at the current juncture.
