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Coup in Burkina Faso Topples Government Coup in Burkina Faso Topples Government
(35 minutes later)
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — Military officers overthrew the government of Burkina Faso on Thursday, plunging the poor Central African country into chaos. The coup was apparently led by allies of the country’s longtime ruler, who had been toppled last October. OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — Military officers overthrew the government of Burkina Faso on Thursday, plunging the West African country into chaos. The coup was apparently led by allies of the country’s longtime ruler, who was toppled in October.
Throughout the morning, supporters of the ousted interim president, Michel Kafando, and prime minister, Isaac Zida, assembled in protest in various neighborhoods here in the capital, yelling, “Free the hostages!” They were dispersed by warning shots from military patrols that crisscrossed the capital. The authorities ordered the country’s borders sealed, canceled flights and imposed a curfew.Throughout the morning, supporters of the ousted interim president, Michel Kafando, and prime minister, Isaac Zida, assembled in protest in various neighborhoods here in the capital, yelling, “Free the hostages!” They were dispersed by warning shots from military patrols that crisscrossed the capital. The authorities ordered the country’s borders sealed, canceled flights and imposed a curfew.
The crisis here began on Wednesday evening with the seizure of the two officials, along with two other ministers, during a cabinet meeting. The newsroom of Radio Omega, a station that was central in reporting news of the 2014 uprising, was stormed. The journalists were forced to cut off the signal, and the offices were set on fire. The crisis began Wednesday evening when the two officials, as well as two ministers, were seized during a cabinet meeting.
The newsroom of Radio Omega, a station that was central in reporting news of the 2014 uprising, was stormed. The journalists were forced to cut off the signal, and the offices were set on fire.
On Thursday morning, a military spokesman, Lt. Col. Mamadou Bamba, appeared on television — which had been running reruns of old shows — to make a statement on behalf of what he called the National Council for Democracy. The council, he said, is led by Gen. Gilbert Diendéré, a close ally of the former president, Blaise Compaoré, who was in power for 27 years until last fall.On Thursday morning, a military spokesman, Lt. Col. Mamadou Bamba, appeared on television — which had been running reruns of old shows — to make a statement on behalf of what he called the National Council for Democracy. The council, he said, is led by Gen. Gilbert Diendéré, a close ally of the former president, Blaise Compaoré, who was in power for 27 years until last fall.
Colonel Bamba said it was necessary to “put an end” to the temporary government, which he said had deviated from the goals of the October 2014 revolution. Colonel Bamba said it was necessary to “put an end” to the temporary government, which he said had deviated from the goals of the October 2014 revolt.
Colonel Bamba said the president had been removed and the National Transition Council, the equivalent of Parliament, was dissolved. The interim president had been removed, Colonel Bamba said, and the National Transition Council, the equivalent of Parliament, dissolved.
The office of President François Hollande of France said he “strongly condemns the coup d’état that has taken place” and “calls for the immediate liberation of all those arrested, for the interim authorities to be put back in place and for the continuation of the electoral process,” Reuters reported. Burkina Faso, then known as Upper Volta, was a French colony until 1960. The office of President François Hollande of France said that he “strongly condemns the coup d’état that has taken place” and “calls for the immediate liberation of all those arrested, for the interim authorities to be put back in place and for the continuation of the electoral process,” Reuters reported. Burkina Faso, then known as Upper Volta, was a French colony until 1960.
The guards leading the coup were members of the Presidential Security Regiment, known by its initials, R.S.P., a powerful group that had been formed by Mr. Compaoré. It closely followed the publication of a report from a political reform commission that had urged the dissolution of the R.S.P. The guards leading the coup were members of the Presidential Security Regiment, known by its French initials, R.S.P., a powerful group that Mr. Compaoré formed. A political overhaul commission recently published a report urgingthe dissolution of the R.S.P.
Colonel Bamba accused the previous government of manipulating the military “for personal ends” and of trying to muzzle the press. He said the security forces had been unfairly “politicized and manipulated” in a security environment “characterized by terrorism and organized crime.” Western governments have warned that Burkina Faso and other countries in the Sahel face threats from Islamist groups, including Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Colonel Bamba accused the previous government of manipulating the military “for personal ends,” and of trying to muzzle the news media. He said the security forces had been unfairly “politicized and manipulated” in a security environment that is “characterized by terrorism and organized crime.”
Officials in the capital said that R.S.P. guards had locked Mr. Kafando, Mr. Zida and two ministers — Augustin Loada, the work and pensions minister, and René Bagoro, the housing and urban affairs minister — in a room at the presidential palace. Their whereabouts were unknown as of Thursday morning. Western governments have warned that Burkina Faso and other countries in the Sahel face threats from Islamist groups, including Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
Chérif Sy, the head of Parliament, issued a statement on Wednesday evening calling the events a “serious attack on the republic and its institutions.” He exhorted “all patriots to defend the motherland.” Officials in the capital said that R.S.P. guards had locked Mr. Kafando, Mr. Zida and the two ministers — Augustin Loada, the work and pensions minister, and René Bagoro, the housing and urban affairs minister — in a room at the presidential palace. Their whereabouts were unknown as of Thursday morning.
Mr. Zida, a former R.S.P. member, was among those who had pushed out Mr. Compaoré last year. Mr. Kafando is a former foreign minister and United Nations ambassador. They were part of a transitional administration that was to be replaced by elections scheduled to start on Oct. 11. Chérif Sy, the leader of Parliament, issued a statement Wednesday evening calling the events a “serious attack on the republic and its institutions.” He exhorted “all patriots to defend the motherland.”
Mr. Zida, a former R.S.P. member, was among those who had pushed out Mr. Compaoré last year. Mr. Kafando is a former foreign minister and United Nations ambassador. They were part of a transitional administration that was to be replaced after elections scheduled to start on Oct. 11.