Burkina Faso

Armed men in masks appear on state television to declare the removal of President Paul-Henri Damiba, in the troubled West African country's second military ...

The statement said Mr Damiba had rejected proposals by the officers to reorganise the army and instead continued with the military structure that had led to the fall of the previous regime. Mr Traore said a group of officers who helped Mr Damiba seize power in January had decided to remove their leader due to his inability to deal with the Islamists. Armed soldiers in fatigues and masks have appeared on television in Burkina Faso to confirm the ousting of President Paul-Henri Damiba, the second military coup in the troubled West African country this year.

More gunshots rang out near Burkina Faso's presidential palace shortly after its military leader sought to quell fears...

The statement said Damiba had rejected proposals by the officers to reorganise the army and instead continued with the military structure that had led to the fall of the previous regime. "Faced with the deteriorating situation, we tried several times to get Damiba to refocus the transition on the security question," said the statement signed by Traore and read out by another officer on television, flanked by a group of soldiers in military fatigues and heavy armour. In a statement read on national television, Traore said a group of officers who helped Damiba seize power in January had decided to remove their leader due to his inability to deal with a worsening Islamist insurgency.

A group of soldiers appeared on Burkina Faso's state broadcaster to announce the coup, the second such incident in the troubled West African country this ...

Thousands have been killed in raids in rural communities, and millions have been forced to flee. Gunshots have been heard near the presidential palace in Ouagadougou with what some residents claim to be an alleged coup attempt. In a scene that replicated Mr Damiba's own power grab in a 24 January coup, Mr Traore appeared on television surrounded by soldiers and announced the government was dissolved, the constitution suspended, and the borders closed. This week, at least 11 soldiers died in an attack in northern Burkina Faso. A man reacts as people gather in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on 30 September 2022. But hope has faded fast.

Burkina Faso army Captain Ibrahim Traore has ousted military leader Paul-Henri Damiba and dissolved the government and suspended...

The statement said Damiba had rejected proposals by the officers to reorganise the army and instead continued with the military structure that had led to the fall of the previous regime. "Faced with the deteriorating situation, we tried several times to get Damiba to refocus the transition on the security question," said the statement signed by Traore and read out by another officer on television, flanked by a group of soldiers in military fatigues and heavy armour. In a statement read on national television, Traore said a group of officers who helped Damiba seize power in January had decided to remove their leader due to his inability to deal with a worsening Islamist insurgency.

Burkina Faso army Captain Ibrahim Traore has ousted military leader Paul-Henri Damiba and dissolved the government and suspended...

The statement said Damiba had rejected proposals by the officers to reorganise the army and instead continued with the military structure that had led to the fall of the previous regime. "Faced with the deteriorating situation, we tried several times to get Damiba to refocus the transition on the security question," said the statement signed by Traore and read out by another officer on television, flanked by a group of soldiers in military fatigues and heavy armour. In a statement read on national television, Traore said a group of officers who helped Damiba seize power in January had decided to remove their leader due to his inability to deal with a worsening Islamist insurgency.

Explosions and gunfire heard in capital and soldiers block access to administrative buildings.

Burkina Faso army Captain Ibrahim Traore has deposed military leader Paul-Henri Damiba, dissolved the government, and suspended the constitution and ...

“There’s a feeling – when I speak to people who are on the streets of Ouagadougou – of deja vu,” he said. The statement said Damiba had rejected proposals by the officers to reorganise the army and instead continued with the military structure that had led to the fall of the previous government. It is the second takeover in eight months for the West African state.

An army captain has announced the removal of the country's military leader Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba.

France issued a similar warning to its more than 4,000 citizens living in the capital city Ouagadougou. But since Friday evening Lt Col Damiba's whereabouts are unknown. Little is known about Col Traoré, the 34-year-old soldier whose statement effectively declared himself the interim leader of Burkina Faso. The United States said it was "deeply concerned" by events in Burkina Faso and encouraged its citizens to limit movements in the country. A spokesman for the ousted government, Lionel Bilgo, told AFP news agency on Friday that the "crisis" was in essence an army pay dispute, and that Lt Col Damiba was taking part in negotiations. But in Friday's announcement came the promise that the "driving forces of the nation" would in time be brought together to appoint a new civilian or military president and a new "transitional charter".

Concerns are mounting in Burkina Faso that the West African nation's military latest coup will only further set back the fight against Islamic extremists.

“It is time for these reactionary and political military factions to stop leading Burkina Faso adrift.” Mali also saw a second coup nine months after the August 2020 overthrow of its president, when the junta’s leader sidelined his civilian transition counterparts and put himself alone in charge. Ibrahim Traore, is vowing to overhaul the military so it is better prepared to fight extremists. He accused Damiba of following the same failed strategies as former President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, whom Damiba overthrew in a January coup, . “A meeting will be convened to adopt a new transitional constitution charter and to select a new Burkina Faso president be it civilian or military,” the statement continued. The junta said in a statement late Friday that the country would be committing “all fighting forces to refocus on the security issue and the restoration of the integrity of our territory.” But it remains to be seen whether the new leadership can turn around a crisis that has forced 2 million residents to flee their homes.

Overthrow of President Damiba is second coup this year in the West African country. Alleged attempted coup in Ouagadougou. Burkina Faso ...

“ECOWAS reaffirms its unequivocal opposition to any seizure or maintenance of power by unconstitutional means,” the group said in a “All political activity is suspended,” the spokesperson said. [read](https://youtu.be/tzczbS8YZxY?t=75) out a statement announcing that Captain Ibrahim Traore will be the new leader of the country.

The military leaders said their decision was rooted in the failure of Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba to control escalating violence.

In Ouagadougou, Honorine Ouedraogo woke up early on the morning of the coup to go to church. State Department [said in a statement ](https://www.state.gov/the-situation-in-burkina-faso/)that it is “deeply concerned” by events in Burkina Faso and will be “closely monitoring this fluid situation.” Protesters bashed windows and lit fires outside the French Embassy in Ouagadougou, [according to videos on social media](https://twitter.com/matteomaillard/status/1576278033270702080?s=20&t=PlAqKtR9SZdd-w6zqz_sZA). Last year, Burkina Faso became the epicenter of the growing security crisis in the Sahel, with its death toll from insurgent attacks surpassing that in Mali. Ibrahim Traoré — said in a statement broadcast on local television that Damiba had begun to focus more on politics than on addressing the security issues that drove the January coup. “It was pretty much the same story as in January — except the only difference is that this was a coup-within-a-coup.”

West African bloc said country's second military coup in nine months was 'inappropriate'

For some in Burkina Faso’s military, Damiba was seen as too cozy with former coloniser France, which maintains a military presence in Africa’s Sahel region to help countries fight Islamic extremists. But the group of officers led by Traore said on Friday that Damiba had failed and was being removed. But it remains to be seen whether the junta can turn around the crisis. As uncertainty prevailed, the international community widely condemned the ousting of Damiba, who overthrew the country’s democratically elected president in January. “We formally deny involvement in the events unfolding in Burkina Faso. The camp where the French forces are based has never hosted Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, nor has our embassy,” it said.

Burkina Faso army Captain Ibrahim Traore has ousted military leader Paul-Henri Damiba and dissolved the government and suspended...

The statement said Damiba had rejected proposals by the officers to reorganise the army and instead continued with the military structure that had led to the fall of the previous regime. "Faced with the deteriorating situation, we tried several times to get Damiba to refocus the transition on the security question," said the statement signed by Traore and read out by another officer on television, flanked by a group of soldiers in military fatigues and heavy armour. In a statement read on national television, Traore said a group of officers who helped Damiba seize power in January had decided to remove their leader due to his inability to deal with a worsening Islamist insurgency.

Gunshots are ringing out in Burkina Faso's capital and soldiers have been deployed in the streets as tensions...

"How can we hope to unite people and the army if the latter is characterised by such serious divisions?" "It is time for these reactionary and political military factions to stop leading Burkina Faso adrift." Mali also saw a second coup nine months after the August 2020 overthrow of its president, when the junta's leader sidelined his civilian transition counterparts and put himself alone in charge. But the group of officers led by Traore said on Friday that Damiba had failed and so was being removed. Yet only two days later, a roadside bomb struck a military convoy in the north, killing at least 35 people. But we don't want this catastrophe," Traore told the Voice of America.

We join our partners at ECOWAS, the African Union, and the European Union in condemning these acts and the ongoing violence, which put in jeopardy the agreed- ...

The United States stands firmly with the people of Burkina Faso in their aspirations for democracy, peace, development, and respect for human rights. The United States is deeply concerned by events in Burkina Faso. The United States is closely monitoring this fluid situation, and we call for restraint by all actors.

Allegedly, Capt. Ibrahim Traore appeared on Friday on national television announcing that Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who overthrew the country's ...

Nearly two-quarters of the displaced people are children. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who overthrew the country's democratically elected president in January, had been removed from power “after failing to end the terrorist violence” that has forced 2 million people to flee their homes. Ibrahim Traore appeared on Friday on national television announcing that Lt.

Gunshots rang out in Burkina Faso's capital amid signs of lingering tensions a day after a group of military officers overthrew the man who had seized power ...

"It is time for these reactionary and political military factions to stop leading Burkina Faso adrift." "How can we hope to unite people and the army if the latter is characterized by such serious divisions?" Mali also saw a second coup nine months after the August 2020 overthrow of its president, when the junta's leader sidelined his civilian transition counterparts and put himself alone in charge. Only two days later, a roadside bomb struck a military convoy in the north, killing at least 35 people. After taking power, Damiba made promises to end the Islamic extremist violence that has forced 2 million people to flee their homes in Burkina Faso. The African Union and the West African region bloc known as ECOWAS sharply criticized the developments.