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Coup Faction in Burkina Faso Fails to Disarm, Officials Say Coup Faction in Burkina Faso Fails to Disarm, Officials Say
(about 5 hours later)
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — The troops who staged a failed coup in Burkina Faso have refused to give up their weapons under a political deal negotiated last week by West African leaders, the country’s transitional government said on Monday. OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — The troops who staged a failed coup in Burkina Faso have refused to give up their weapons under a political deal negotiated last week by West African leaders, the country’s transitional government said on Monday.
The Presidential Security Regiment — known by its French initials, R.S.P. — has been in control of the presidential palace in Ouagadougou, the capital, since the evening of Sept. 16, when its officers stormed into a cabinet meeting and seized the interim president, Michel Kafando, and prime minister, Lt. Col. Isaac Zida. The officers are allies of former President Blaise Compaoré, who was driven from office by mass protests in October 2014 after he tried to change the Constitution to extend his 27-year rule.The Presidential Security Regiment — known by its French initials, R.S.P. — has been in control of the presidential palace in Ouagadougou, the capital, since the evening of Sept. 16, when its officers stormed into a cabinet meeting and seized the interim president, Michel Kafando, and prime minister, Lt. Col. Isaac Zida. The officers are allies of former President Blaise Compaoré, who was driven from office by mass protests in October 2014 after he tried to change the Constitution to extend his 27-year rule.
The coup was condemned by the United Nations and the African Union, and the capital and other cities erupted in protest. A general strike paralyzed the country and the rest of the army refused to support the coup. The United Nations and the African Union condemned the coup, and the capital and other cities erupted in protest. A general strike paralyzed the country, and the rest of the army refused to support the coup.
After government military forces began moving into the capital last week to reassert control, leaders of the Economic Community of West African States brokered an accord to resolve the crisis: The army would withdraw from the capital, while the regiment would reinstate the interim government, return to its base about a mile from the presidential palace, and lay down its arms. After government military forces began moving into the capital last week to reassert control, leaders of the Economic Community of West African States brokered an accord to resolve the crisis: The army would withdraw from the capital, while the regiment would reinstate the interim government, return to its base about a mile from the presidential palace and lay down its arms.
That fragile deal appears now to be falling apart.That fragile deal appears now to be falling apart.
On Friday, the transitional government formally disbanded the R.S.P., which was created by Mr. Compaoré, and appointed a commission to investigate the coup attempt. The state prosecutor, Laurent Poda, moved on Saturday to freeze the assets of 14 associates of Mr. Compaoré, including the coup’s leader, Gen. Gilbert Diendéré; his wife, Fatou Diallo Diendéré; another prominent politician, Eddie Komboïgo; and a former foreign minister, Djibril Bassolé. On Friday, the transitional government formally disbanded the R.S.P., which Mr. Compaoré created, and appointed a commission to investigate the coup attempt. The state prosecutor, Laurent Poda, moved on Saturday to freeze the assets of 14 associates of Mr. Compaoré, including the coup’s leader, Gen. Gilbert Diendéré; his wife, Fatou Diallo Diendéré; another prominent politician, Eddie Komboïgo; and a former foreign minister, Djibril Bassolé.
Before the coup attempt, Mr. Bassolé was planning to run in national elections scheduled for Oct. 11. But the transitional government barred him and a number of other Compaoré supporters from taking part in the election, a chief point of contention in the country’s political crisis.Before the coup attempt, Mr. Bassolé was planning to run in national elections scheduled for Oct. 11. But the transitional government barred him and a number of other Compaoré supporters from taking part in the election, a chief point of contention in the country’s political crisis.
Some members of the regiment have surrendered since the deal was struck, but most have not. General Diendéré was said on Monday to be shuttling between the presidential palace and the regiment’s base, Camp Naba Koom II.Some members of the regiment have surrendered since the deal was struck, but most have not. General Diendéré was said on Monday to be shuttling between the presidential palace and the regiment’s base, Camp Naba Koom II.
The transitional government suggested on Monday that a core group of coup plotters was continuing to make trouble. “This handful of die-hards has taken hostage not only members of the former R.S.P. who wanted to rejoin the side of reason, but also officers of the national armed forces tasked with disarming them,” the government said in a statement. “But even more seriously, the government knows that they have called foreign forces and jihadist groups to their rescue to realize their dark scheme.”The transitional government suggested on Monday that a core group of coup plotters was continuing to make trouble. “This handful of die-hards has taken hostage not only members of the former R.S.P. who wanted to rejoin the side of reason, but also officers of the national armed forces tasked with disarming them,” the government said in a statement. “But even more seriously, the government knows that they have called foreign forces and jihadist groups to their rescue to realize their dark scheme.”
The government’s meaning was not immediately clear. Extremist Islamic groups, including Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, have been active in the northern part of the country, as well as in neighboring Mali and Niger, and Western governments are worried that militant activity might spill over into Burkina Faso.The government’s meaning was not immediately clear. Extremist Islamic groups, including Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, have been active in the northern part of the country, as well as in neighboring Mali and Niger, and Western governments are worried that militant activity might spill over into Burkina Faso.
The army chief of staff, Gen. Pingrenoma Zagré, called the situation in the capital on Monday an “impasse.” He said in a statement that members of the R.S.P. had assaulted military officers who were sent to disarm them.The army chief of staff, Gen. Pingrenoma Zagré, called the situation in the capital on Monday an “impasse.” He said in a statement that members of the R.S.P. had assaulted military officers who were sent to disarm them.
A coalition of civil society organizations called on the country’s 17 million citizens to “resume a campaign of active resistance” against the R.S.P. The transitional government issued a similar appeal, describing the situation as “especially grave,” but it avoided calls for violence. Eleven people have been killed in connection with the coup since it began. A coalition of civil society organizations called on the country’s 17 million citizens to “resume a campaign of active resistance” against the R.S.P. The transitional government issued a similar appeal, describing the situation as “especially grave,” but it avoided calls for violence. Eleven people have been killed in the coup since it began.
“Together, let’s defend the gains of our popular insurrection, preserve public and private property, avoid reprisals and acts of private vengeance and reassure members of the former R.S.P. and their families,” the government said in its statement. “Do not give in to panic, or hatred, or despair.” “Together, let’s defend the gains of our popular insurrection, preserve public and private property, avoid reprisals and acts of private vengeance and reassure members of the former R.S.P. and their families,” the government said in its statement.
Benoît Beucher, a scholar at the Université Libre de Bruxelles who studies Burkina Faso, said the situation in the country was highly volatile. Mr. Compaoré’s allies now know that they are unlikely to regain direct control of the country by force, he said, and Mr. Compaoré, now living in exile in Morocco, is unlikely to attempt to return himself. But he may well be trying from behind the scenes to preserve a role for his associates in any future government, Dr. Beucher said.