AFRICA | Yet another Military Coup in Burkina Faso, UN Concerned

OUAGODOUGOU, Burkina Faso, October 2, 2022 - There has been yet another Coup in the west African country of Burkina Faso plunging that country in a state of uncertainty as President  Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba who was installed on February 16 has been deposed.

On Friday morning, gunshots were heard in the capital city of Ouagadougou and access to the presidential palace, the public television and certain strategic points were blocked by soldiers.

Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who on January 24 staged a coup and overthrew  President Roch Kabore was on Friday overthrown in a military coup led by Captain Ibrahim Traore.

"The latest outbreak of violence in the deeply impoverished country began when junior military officers announced the overthrow of junta leader Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, accusing him of failing to combat jihadist attacks," AfricaBnn  has reported.   

It was the second coup in Burkina Faso this year, and the latest in the Sahel region, which is grappling with a growing Islamist insurgency.

In a statement read out on national television on Saturday and signed by Captain Traore, the country’s new leader, the officers said Damiba “is believed to have taken refuge in the French base at Kamboinsin in order to plan a counteroffensive to stir up trouble in our defence and security forces”.

Africa | Burkina Faso ߇簟章

French Ambassy has been set on fire by protesters in Burkina Faso. This follows a recent military coup in the country pic.twitter.com/9Lz8FwRvNv

— Sphithiphithi Evaluator (@_AfricanSoil) October 2, 2022

According to Africa BNN, France, the former colonial power in Burkina Faso, on Saturday denied “any involvement” in the coup or that “Burkinabe authorities have been hosted or are under the protection of the French military”.

Damiba urged his opponents in a written statement posted on the presidency’s official Facebook page to “come to their senses in order to avoid a fratricidal war that Burkina Faso does not need.”

The general staff of Burkina Faso’s army dismissed the coup as a “internal crisis” within the military and stated that talks to resolve the situation were “ongoing.”

On Saturday, the United Nations Secretary Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the situation in Burkina Faso following a coup that ousted President Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba.

The UN Secretary "strongly condemns any attempt to seize power by the force of arms and calls on all actors to refrain from violence and seek dialogue," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Guterres in a statement.                                   

"The Secretary-general expresses his full support for regional efforts toward a swift return to constitutional order in the country. Burkina Faso needs peace, stability and unity to fight terrorist groups and criminal networks operating in parts of the country."        

Guterres also reaffirmed the United Nations commitment to accompany this African country in its efforts toward stability. Friday's coup was the second this year in Burkina Faso.

In April this year, Burkina's ex president, Blaise Campaore  who ordered the assassination of Thomas Sankara in 1987, a revolutionary who is remembered by his people as the African "Che Guevara,"was sentenced to life imprisonment.

A military tribunal also sentenced General Gilbert Diendere and Hyacinthe Kafando to life imprisonment. Compaore, who lives in exile in Cote d'Ivoire after being toppled by public protests in 2014, and Kafando, who has been on the run since 2016, were tried in absentia.

Ditanyè devant le bâtiment où Thomas Sankara a été assassiné le jour du verdict du procès. Blaise Compaoré (exilé à Abidjan) Hyacinthe Kafando et Gilbert Diendéré ont été reconnu coupables et condamnés à perpétuité. #Sankara #justice #ThomasSankara #Proces_Sankara pic.twitter.com/kyWeAfLpSf

— Sophie Garcia (@sgarcia_photo) April 6, 2022

Thomas Sankara seized power in Burkina Faso following a military coup on August 4, 1983, as part of a revolution that changed the name of his country from Haute Volta to Burkina Faso.

Besides being an ideologue of pan-Africanism, Sankara stood out as a revolutionary under the inspiration of Cuban guerrillas such as Fidel Castro and Ernesto "Che" Guevara.

The investigation into his murder remained blocked for three decades. After Camaore left power in 2014, however, a transitional government authorized the exhumation of Sankara's body for DNA testing.

Although the tests did not yield conclusive results, they were enough to confirm that the corpse received several shots, which was consistent with the testimony of witnesses.

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