soldiers deployed in the night of Thursday in the Burkinabé capital, blocking strategic axes.
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The tension rises to Ouagadougou. Several local sources contacted by Le Monde reported “heavy weapons” on the night of Thursday to Friday September 30, inside the military camp Baba Sy, located south of the capital of Burkina Faso, Near Kosyam, the presidential palace, occupied by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba since the coup of January 23.
Friday morning, access to the palace was blocked by “heavily armed soldiers”. Other strategic axes, such as the United Nations roundabout leading to the Prime Minister and located in the heart of the city center, were also locked. The Burkina television broadcasting signal (RTB) has ceased to issue and access to its premises was blocked by soldiers. The French Embassy, the European Union and other countries such as Belgium have given their staff to stay at home.
rumors of noise of boots
Pending an official declaration to clarify the situation, the Burkinabés wonder: is it an attempted coup or a mood movement of the soldiers? Since the attack on a refueling convoy escorted by the army on Monday, September 26 in Gaskindé on Monday, in the north, during which at least 11 soldiers have been killed and fifty civilians have disappeared, rumors of noise of boots have mounted .
Since 2015, jihadist groups affiliated with the support group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM) or the Islamic State in the Grand Sahara (EIGS) are constantly extending their grip in Burkina Faso. Their attacks on both military and civil targets have killed thousands of people and caused the movement of some two million people.
To justify their coup d’etat of January 23, the putschists had denounced the absence of result in the fight anti -terrorist of President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, whom they overthrew. The new strong man of Burkina Faso, Lieutenant-Colonel Damiba, had then promised to fight against jihadist groups a priority. But the attacks continued at a frantic pace. “Is it still this inability to fight the terrorists who will drop the president?” Asks a Burkinabé joined by Le Monde. For the time being, the situation remains confused.