There was a coup in Burkina Faso on this morning.
The country’s army has taken over government and have detained
interim President, Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Yacouba Zida.
Here’s everything you should know about the coup, courtesy of Ynaija:
-The transitional government came into power after Blaise Campaore
was overthrown with the help of a public uprising, in late 2014 after 27
years as leader of Burkina Faso.
-Members of the military showed up at the presidential offices on
Wednesday, September 16, and barred the transitional leaders from
leaving the premises.
-Soldiers detained Burkina Faso’s transitional president, prime
minister, Yacouba Isaac Zida, and an unknown number of cabinet members.
-Interim parliament speaker Cheriff Sy told French radio station RFI
that a coup was clearly in progress, and called on the people to rise up
in protest and defence of their nation’s democracy.
-On Thursday morning, Burkina Faso’s presidential guard announced
that they had dissolved the country’s political institutions and set up a
‘National Democratic Council’ to end the ‘Deviant Regime’ in the
country.
-Lieutenant-Colonel Mamadou Bamba appeared on national television to
declare that the military had seized the country’s president and
government leaders and was in control of the country.
-Lt-Col Bamba said wide-ranging talks were being held to form a new
interim government that would organise “peaceful and inclusive
elections”.
-Shortly after, incidents of gunfire was reported on the streets of Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso.
-The national elections of Burkina Faso, is scheduled to hold in a few weeks.
-The U.N. Security Council has unanimously demanded the immediate
release of the president, prime minister and others being held hostage
in Burkina Faso by members of the presidential guard.