Burkina Faso Coup: Spate of Civil unrest takeover country

Just weeks before their national election to choose a new government, Burkina Faso’s military has overthrown the ruling interim government. This is the 9th military coup in the history of this West African country. The country’sgeneral elections was earlier scheduled to hold on October 11, 2015.

A protester holds a loaded slingshot in
Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou.

The political unrest sparked violence in the streets, and the presidential guard opened fire with live ammunition to disperse crowds protesting the coup.

NPR reports that, "Demonstratorswere quick to protest in the capital, Ouagadougou where marches were met with force and shots by presidential guards patrolling the streets."

Burkina Faso was due to hold elections on October 11, 2015 that many hoped would strengthen democracy 

There are reports of more than 10 deaths amid protests in the capital, Ouagadougou. Those killed were shot dead by presidential guard forces in the capital, a civil society group said.

 

A photo of a TV screen shows the
national broadcast in which Lieutenant
Colonel Mamadou Bamba announced
that the "National Democratic Council"
is now in charge of Burkina Faso.

 

It will be recalled that Burkina Faso’s President Blaise Compaore was ousted in a popular uprising in October 2014 after he tried to prolong his 27-year rule. A transitional government was subsequently put in place, but soldiers arrested the interim President Michel Kafando and the prime minister, himself a soldier, at a Cabinet meeting late Wednesday September 16, 2015 and announced hours later that they had beenremoved from office.

The coup in the West African nation comes just days after a commissionrecommended disbanding the elite Presidential Security Regiment, which has publicly clashed with the transitional government and which is also accused of killing demonstratorsduring last year's anti-government rallies.            Ousted Burkina Faso's interim president

Coup leaders say there was deep frustration with the leadership.

The military unit announced in a Television broadcast by LieutenantColonel Mamadou Bamba that the transitional government has been dissolved, thereby putting an end to "the deviant regime of transition." He said

The Coup has been condemned by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the White House, the African Union, the regional West African community, ECOWAS, and the former colonial power, France.

Thegroup that seized power, calling itself the National Council for Democracy, says it will be led by Gen. Gilbert Diendere, who Agence France-Presse identifies as former president Blaise Compaore's chief-of-staff.