The military in Burkina Faso has announced the dissolution of the country’s transitional government, a day after presidential guards arrested the interim president and prime minister.
President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Yacouba Zida were detained by soldiers who stormed an afternoon Cabinet meeting, plunging the poor West African country into chaos and uncertainty.
The coup comes days before the country’s first election since last year’s ouster of long-serving ruler, Blaise Compaore.
Mr. Compoare was deposed in a popular uprising in 2014.
The interim leaders were due to hand power to a new government after elections on October 11.
Their arrest on Wednesday triggered fresh street protests outside the presidential palace.
Soldiers responded with gunfire and forced radio and television stations to stop broadcasting.
An unnamed military official said on Thursday that the interim president, Mr. Kafando, had been stripped of his functions and the government dissolved.
“We have put in place a national democracy council tasked with organising democratic and inclusive elections,” said the unidentified official in military uniform, according to PREMIUM TIMES.
Moumina Cheriff Sy, the speaker of the transitional parliament, called the coup “a blow to the republic and its institutions”.
“I call on all patriots to gather to defend the motherland,” he said.
The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed outrage over the coup, calling for the immediate release of the leaders.
In a statement, Mr. Ban’s press office said, “This incident is a flagrant violation of Burkina Faso’s Constitution and Transitional Charter”.
The United States also called for the immediate release of the interim president, prime minister.
“The United States strongly condemns any attempt to seize power through extra-constitutional means or resolve internal political disagreements using force,” State Department spokesperson, John Kirby, said in a statement.
HMMM!!!
Africans can never get it right
ReplyDeleteThis will only make the country poorer
DeleteGod help them.
ReplyDeletefor real
ReplyDelete#GODWIN™
a.k.a EDWIN CHINEDU AZUBUKO said...
ReplyDelete.
I no dey even understand wetin i dey read self......
.
.
***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***
Ghen ghen!
ReplyDeleteThey should return the country to constitutional rule asap.
ReplyDeleteMilitary rule in African should be a thing of the past.
Hiaaaa!Military coup still dey exist?
ReplyDeleteAnother hmmm.
ReplyDeleteOKAY NOW...TOMJERRYSWIT
ReplyDeleteHian!
ReplyDeleteSo,coups still exist?
I pity Burkina Faso.
Why can't they do this in Mugabe 's country sef?
#WhiteDiamondOut
Kweke! Nawa o, coup in dis 21st century. People are moving forward, y guys are busy going backwards. Na una sabi shaa
ReplyDeleteMorning peeps
ReplyDeleteFingers pointing to d french...
ReplyDelete*strolling away*
Oh my
ReplyDeleteWhen will coup stop in Africa??!!!
ReplyDeleteCorruption, love for power. The reason of imperialism, colonialism is gone. After self determination and independence has been achieved. Africa has been termed third world, developing, underdeveloped, little wonder, there's no development. Leadership is just the problem. Until Africa begins to churn out selfless and patriotic leaders, then it will continue to lunge more into the quagmire it's currently in.
ReplyDeleteRight.
Delete*Season*
DeletePoor country
ReplyDeleteTHELMA ENEMUWE said....
ReplyDeleteNawa ooo
*faithful BV enemuwe thelma*
This is sooo sad!
ReplyDeleteThis is a very bad for aficans. I can only attribute this to gullible leaders. Leaders who have refused to see the suffering of their own people. Its time we stand up in unity and make demand on our right. Put sentiments and religion aside and move our continent forward. Forward ever backward never.
ReplyDeleteOh dear! Chaos
ReplyDeleteI thought the era of coup has gone?this z not good at all
ReplyDeleteChoi!
ReplyDeleteAfter all the vehicles baba contributed..
It can only get better..