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Military Stages Coup in Burkina Faso Military Stages Coup in Burkina Faso
(about 1 hour later)
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.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 the 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. Gen. Gilbert Diendéré took control of the country, according to a military spokesman. General Diendéré is a close ally of the former president, Blaise Compaoré, who was in power for 27 years until last fall.
The crisis began Wednesday evening when the two officials, as well as two ministers, were seized during a cabinet meeting. The crisis began Wednesday evening when members of the Presidential Security Regiment, known by its French initials, R.S.P., stormed a cabinet meeting and seized the interim president, Michel Kafando, and the prime minister, Isaac Zida, along with other officials. They also raided the newsroom of Radio Omega, a station that was central in reporting news of the 2014 uprising, forced the journalists to cut off the signal, and set their offices on fire.
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, the military spokesman, Lt. Col. Mamadou Bamba, appeared on television to make a statement on behalf of what he called the National Council for Democracy.
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 revolt. He confirmed that Mr. Kafando had been removed, and that the National Transition Council, the equivalent of Parliament, had been dissolved.
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. Throughout Thursday morning, supporters of Mr. Kafando and Mr. Zida assembled in protest in various neighborhoods here, yelling, “Free the hostages!” They were dispersed by warning shots from military patrols that crisscrossed the capital.
The interim president had been removed, Colonel Bamba said, and the National Transition Council, the equivalent of Parliament, dissolved. The authorities ordered the country’s borders sealed, canceled flights and imposed a curfew. Robert Sangaré, director of the largest hospital in Ouagadougou, said eight people had been admitted with serious injuries. Labor unions called for a general strike. Protesters set on fire the house of Jean-Baptiste Natama, a politician who intended to run in elections scheduled for Oct. 11. Mr. Natama had been critical of the transitional government, but he has not been directly linked to the coup.
The whereabouts of Mr. Kafando and Mr. Zida and of two other officials who were seized in the coup — Augustin Loada, the work and pensions minister, and René Bagoro, the housing and urban affairs minister — were unknown.
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 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 French initials, R.S.P., a powerful group that Mr. Compaoré formed. A political overhaul commission recently published a report urging the dissolution of the R.S.P. The R.S.P. was established by Mr. Compaoré, who took power in a 1987 coup that left President Thomas Sankara dead. A political commission recently published a report urging the 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 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.”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.”
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.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.
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. Chérif Sy, the leader of the National Transition Council, 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.”
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. The two men were part of a transitional administration that was to be replaced after the elections in October.
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. Pierre Englebert, a professor of African politics at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., said he would not rule out an attempt by Mr. Compaoré’s associates to return to power.
The transitional government “overplayed its hand” by banning members of Mr. Compaoré’s power from participating in the coming elections, he said.
Gen. Gilbert Diendéré, the de facto leader of the R.S.P., feared that the regiment would be disbanded and, moreover, faced questions in an inquiry about the 1987 death of Mr. Sankara, Prof. Englebert said.
“The 1,300-strong R.S.P. has proved a much more resilient force than the multiple grass-roots movements” that overthrew Mr. Compaoré last year, he said.