Burkina Faso's Presidential Security Regiment declared a coup Thursday, a day after seizing the interim president. Coup members later declared General Gilbert Diendéré the new leader until "inclusive and peaceful" elections can be held.
In a statement, the military unit also announced the closure of the West African nation's borders as well as the implementation of an overnight curfew.
Coup spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mamadou Bamba spoke on national television to announce that "wide-ranging talks" were being held to form a new government leading to "inclusive and peaceful elections".
He added that the coup had put an end to “the deviant regime of transition” in the West African state.
Presidential guard members linked to ex-leader Blaise Compaoré had burst into a cabinet meeting on Wednesday and seized acting President Michel Kafando, Prime Minister Isaac Zida and two ministers.
Zida was himself once an officer in Compaore's powerful Presidential Security Regiment (RSP), before he toppled his boss after days of street protests in October 2014.
Shots could still be heard Thursday in the capital Ouagadougou after the arrest of the nation's transitional leaders triggered immediate street protests outside the presidential palace where they were reportedly being held.
Revolution Square – the epicentre of protests against Compaore – was empty apart from military patrols, with the streets of the capital also deserted.
No comments:
Post a Comment