Event Chronology:
Wednesday 16th September, members of the elite presidential guard force in Burkina Faso stormed an afternoon meeting and arrested the country’s interim president, prime minister and other ministers.
Thursday 17th September the military through the national television and radio declared its control over the country relieving the president off his duties.
Brigadier General Gilbert Diendere was appointed the Burkina Faso’s new leader.
Summary:
The Elite Presidential guard squad of Burkina Faso’s military overthrew the country’s interim government after arresting the country’s interim president, prime minister and other key ministers in the Wednesday September 16th incident.
The military took over power and have appointed former president’s ally as the new leader of Burkina Faso. The announcement was made on Thursday 17th on national television and radio.
Diendere was the head of the presidential guard squad under former president until he fled to Ivory Coast after the ouster of President Blaise.
The military have imposed a 7pm-6am curfew with witnesses reporting a large presence of soldiers patrolling the streets.
The coup comes weeks before the October 11th general election which would have been the first since the public ouster of President Blaise Compaore who ruled for 27 years late 2014. He was forced out of power by public demonstrations after he attempted to change the constitution to extend is 27-year term in office.
ECOWAS, AU and the UN have issued a condemnation of the military coup in the country that was on the brink of having the first elections and a chance at better and mature democracy and at the safe time demanding the release of the arrested leaders.
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