The president of Burkina Faso arrested and detained by the army.
This Monday, January 24 in the morning, several sources evoked a coup against Roch Marc Christian Kaboré – information confirmed in
Figaro.
At the start of the morning, probably mutinous soldiers took their places in front of Radio Télévision Burkinabè (RTB), a sign traditionally announcing putschs.
A statement should be read quickly, say the military.
The situation remains very vague, however, while the cut in mobile internet since Sunday afternoon makes communications extremely difficult.
According to several local media, the head of state is being held in the Karpala military camp in Ouagadougou.
In the capital, overflown by army helicopters, shots ring out regularly.
President Kaboré has not been seen or heard from since Sunday morning when mutinies broke out in several barracks.
The mutineers demand "appropriate means" for the anti-jihadist fight
A movement of military moods not necessarily unexpected when power appears fragile and the army faces very heavy losses without managing to contain jihadist violence. The government initially seemed to contain this anger. A press release quickly recognized the reality of the shootings, before the Minister of Defense recognized the mutiny on television, excluding however any attempt at a coup d'etat. In the Sangoulé Lamizana camp, one of the biggest in the city, as at the air base, the unrest seemed to be on the way out. Claims had been passed to several media. The mutineers demanded in particular “
means adapted to the fight
” anti-jihadist, “
significant manpower
“, as well as the dismissal of the staff.
But they did not demand the departure of the president.
In the evening, however, as the military was joined by more and more civilians hostile to government management, events accelerated.
Shots were heard in several neighborhoods, and around the president's residence.
The soldiers came out of their barracks, raising fears of a coup.
This putsch, if confirmed, would be the third in eight months in West Africa.
Last May, in Mali, Colonel Assimi Goïta, already the author of a coup in August 2020, seized full powers.
Last September, in Guinea, Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya overthrew the contested President Alpha Condé.
As in Mali, these movements in barracks in Burkina come the day after new demonstrations of anger from residents exasperated by the powerlessness of the authorities to deal with the war led by armed Islamists.
Millions of Burkinabe have been forced to flee.
On November 14, an attack in Inata resulted in the death of 53 gendarmes and aroused widespread anger in the military ranks and deep misunderstanding among civilians.
Since the rumors of a coup d'etat were linked.
On January 10, the arrest of Lieutenant-Colonel Zoungrana, accused of having wanted to take power, had only reinforced fears.
