In Burkina Faso, the military announced the seizure of power and imposed a curfew

The military in Burkina Faso carried out a coup d’état. They detained the President of the country, Roche Marc Kabore, and reported that they had dissolved the National Assembly, suspended the Constitution, closed the country’s borders and imposed a curfew from 21:00 to 05:00. informs Burkina24.

The representative of the military noted that the seizure of power was carried out “without physical violence against those arrested.” The military is led by Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba.

This is the third military coup in West Africa in the last 1.5 years, notes Associated Press.

Burkina Faso President Roche Marc Kabore resigns informs Reuters, citing informed sources.

Earlier, the pan-African portal LSI Africa reported that the family of the country’s president had left Burkina Faso, and Kabore himself was allegedly under the protection of the gendarmerie, which remained loyal to him. According to eyewitnesses, on the evening of January 23, shooting was heard near the presidential residence, and helicopters were seen in the sky. Shooting was also carried out at several military bases, the Internet and mobile communications worked intermittently. Against this background, protests began in the capital of Burkina Faso, the participants of which burned ruling party office.

According to media reports, during the coup, the military released General Gilbert Diendere from prison. In 2015, he was convicted of attempting to seize power, transmits RIA Novosti.

Kabore has served as president of the country since 2015 and was re-elected in 2020. He came to power shortly after the overthrow of President Blaise Compaore. He was an officer and seized power in a military coup. Compaore’s reign lasted 27 years and ended when he once again decided to change the Constitution in order to stay in power for another five years.

Since 2015, terrorist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have been active in Burkina Faso. As a result of the attacks, thousands of people died, and 1.4 million people were forced to flee their homes. The inability of the authorities to eliminate the terrorist threat causes discontent among the military and in society as a whole.

Human rights activists also reported on mass violence by the military. The ineffective protracted fight against terrorists, in which units of the French troops are participating, has also led to an increase in anti-French sentiment, writes Le Point magazine.

According to French media, the possibility of attracting Russian mercenaries is being actively discussed in Burkina Faso, but it could cause sharp criticism of Paris.

In two other states of the region, Small and Guinea There have also been recent military coups. After that, mercenaries from the Russian PMC Wagner began active work in both countries.