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Military Stages Coup in Burkina Faso Military Stages Coup in Burkina Faso
(about 3 hours 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 and violence. The coup was apparently led by allies of the country’s longtime ruler, who was toppled in October.
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.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 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 crisis began Wednesday evening when members of the Presidential Security Regiment 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.
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, 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.
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 revolt. He confirmed that Mr. Kafando had been removed, and that the National Transition Council, the equivalent of Parliament, had been dissolved.
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. 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. At least two people were killed by security forces, one hit in the chest near the center of Ouagadougou, the capital, and another hit in the neck in the St. Léon area of the city.
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 authorities ordered the country’s borders sealed, canceled flights and imposed a curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., beginning Thursday. Robert Sangaré, director of the largest hospital in Ouagadougou, said eight people had been admitted with serious wounds. 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 whereabouts of Mr. Kafando, Mr. Zida and 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. At the United Nations, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and other top officials strongly condemned the military takeover, demanding that the coup organizers release their hostages and allow the political transition to resume. The Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting on Burkina Faso for later Thursday.
The R.S.P. was established by Mr. Compaoré, who took power in a 1987 coup that left former President Thomas Sankara dead. A political commission recently published a report urging the dissolution of the R.S.P. “The secretary general deplores the violence reported in the country and calls on the Burkinabé defense and security forces to exercise restraint and ensure respect for the human rights and security of all Burkinabé citizens,” Mr. Ban’s office said in a statement. “Those responsible for the coup d’état and its consequences must be held accountable.”
The high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, said in a statement from his Geneva offices, “The arrest and detention of the president, the prime minister and two ministers of the transitional government by members of the Presidential Security Regiment is unacceptable.”
The office of President François Hollande of France also condemned the takeover and called for all those arrested to be freed, Reuters reported. Burkina Faso, formerly known as Upper Volta, was a French colony until 1960.
The Presidential Security Regiment 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 regiment.
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 sub-Saharan region face threats from Islamist groups, including Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Western governments have warned that Burkina Faso and other countries in the sub-Saharan region face threats from Islamist groups, including Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, the group’s North Africa affiliate.
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 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.”
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 security regiment member, was among those who 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.
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.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. The transitional government “overplayed its hand” by banning members of Mr. Compaoré’s administration from participating in the coming elections, he said.
General 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, Professor Englebert said. General Diendéré, the de facto leader of the security regiment, feared that it would be disbanded and, moreover, faced questions in an inquiry about the 1987 death of Mr. Sankara, Professor 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.“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.