Burkina Faso: "resignation" of the president, closing of the borders ... soldiers confirm that they have taken power

And suddenly, uniforms on full display.

The Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration (MPSR) "which brings together all the components of the defense and security forces has thus decided to put an end to the power of Mr. Marc Roch Christian Kaboré on January 24, 2022", announced Monday evening at the Burkinabe television Captain Kader Ouedraogo, surrounded by about fifteen soldiers.

A few hours earlier, the latter took power in this Sahelian country undermined by jihadist attacks, and ousted President Marc Roch Christian Kaboré.

The beginning of a new crisis greeted with dissonant hope by some residents, tired of the Islamist threat.

Meanwhile, the deposed president has disappeared from the radar.

Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, the country's new strongman

As a result of this coup initiated on Sunday by mutinies in the barracks of the country, the land and air borders will be closed from midnight, the government and the National Assembly dissolved and the constitution “suspended”, announce the soldiers.

A curfew has been introduced from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. - local time - throughout the territory, continues Kader Ouedraogo, a press release in hand, signed by the leader of the MPSR, Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba.

This commander of the 3rd military region appears to be the country's new strongman.

#Burkina

The country's new strongman has a name: Lieutenant Colonel Paul Henri Sandaogo #Damiba at the head of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration https://t.co/kZuyxf9Zy0 pic.twitter.com/8a4JrDEAeD

— Kalidou SY (@Kalidou) January 24, 2022

The MPSR undertook on Monday “to propose within a reasonable time (…) a timetable for a return to a constitutional order accepted by all”.

He "calls on patriots, honest Africans and all friends of Burkina Faso to support and accompany him in this decisive turning point in the history of our country".

“A new start for the people of Burkina Faso”

Before the start of the curfew, hundreds of Ouagadougou residents took to the streets of the capital to celebrate this takeover with shouts of joy and whistles.

“It's a victory, a new start for the people of Burkina Faso with the fall of an incapable regime,” says Amado Zoungrana, perched on a motorbike with the Burkina flag in hand.

"It's a new page for the Burkinabe army which must go down in history by focusing on the essentials, namely liberating Burkina from the terrorist groups who have bereaved us enough", adds Serge Compaoré.

Where is the ousted president?

A question remained on Monday evening: where is Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, who has presided over the country since 2015?

Public television RTB published on Twitter a handwritten letter signed by the former leader, in which he indicates "to file his resignation", "in the best interests of the nation, following the events taking place there" since Sunday.

#Burkina Letter of resignation from President Roch Marc Christian #Kabore posted on the RTB Facebook page

@France24_fr https://t.co/UZ4gxuHUV9 pic.twitter.com/oOHRZC4dTT

— Kalidou SY (@Kalidou) January 24, 2022

The soldiers contented themselves with indicating that "the operations took place without bloodshed and without any physical violence on the arrested persons who are detained in a safe place with respect for their dignity", without mentioning names.

Monday morning, an AFP journalist saw near the residence of the head of state three vehicles riddled with bullets.

Traces of blood were visible on one of them.

Shots were heard Sunday evening near the residence of the head of state and a helicopter flew over the area with all lights extinguished, according to residents.

Read alsoBurkina: soldiers demand the departure of army chiefs

On Roch Marc Christian Kaboré's Twitter account, a message posted early Monday afternoon, which it was impossible to know whether it had been written by him directly, or under what circumstances, invited "those who took the weapons to lay them down in the best interests of the Nation" and called for "dialogue and listening".

Our Nation is going through difficult times.

At this precise moment, we must safeguard our democratic achievements.

I invite those who have taken up arms to lay them down in the Higher Interests of the Nation.

It is through dialogue and listening that we must resolve our contradictions.RK

— Roch KABORE (@rochkaborepf) January 24, 2022

Kaboré, re-elected in 2020 on the promise to make the anti-jihadist fight his priority, was increasingly contested by a population exasperated by jihadist violence and its powerlessness to deal with it.

Soldiers mutinied on Sunday in several barracks to demand the departure of army chiefs and "appropriate means" to fight against the jihadists who have struck this country since 2015.

Several angry demonstrations have taken place in recent months in the cities of Burkina - and again until Monday - to denounce the inability of the authorities to counter the jihadist attacks which are multiplying, often prohibited and dispersed by the riot police.

A consequence of the jihadist threat

On the international scene, since Sunday this coup has been widely condemned, in particular by the UN, which called on the perpetrators "to lay down their arms" and to protect the "physical integrity" of President Kaboré.

The United States and the European Union have asked for the "immediate release" of Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, France calling on its nationals to be cautious and to avoid any trip to Burkina.

This putsch comes at a time when the Sahel is increasingly destabilized by jihadists who are also hitting Niger and neighboring Mali, a country which has been the scene of two coups in a few months.

Burkina Faso has been caught since 2015 in a spiral of violence attributed to armed jihadist groups, affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, which have killed more than 2,000 people in almost seven years and forced 1.5 million people to flee their homes.