State television had stopped broadcasting and more gunfire was heard later in the day. REUTERS/Vincent Bado//File Photo. Army captain Ibrahim Traor was declared the country's leader on Friday night, replacing Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who himself had deposed a democratically elected president in January.. Burkina Faso's ousted military ruler has gone to neighbouring Togo after rival officers seized power in a coup on Friday, Togo's government has said. Burkina Faso this week joined a list of countries that have recently experienced military takeovers most plagued by insecurity, poor governance and frustrated youth. Burkina Faso coup: Why soldiers have overthrown President Kabor 2023 BBC. For him, results on the grounds are what matters.". The soldiers introduced . Earlier this week at least 11 soldiers were killed and 50 civilians went missing after a supply convoy was attacked by gunmen in Gaskinde commune in Soum province in the Sahel. Burkina Faso Presidency/REUTERS TV via REUTERSReuters. "As far as we're concerned, it's not a coup," school teacher Julienne Traore told AFP news agency as crowds celebrated in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou. Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile. [1/2]Burkina Faso's new military leader Ibrahim Traore is escorted by soldiers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. On September 30, Burkina Faso military leader President Paul-Henri Damiba was deposed in the countrys second coup in a year, as army Captain Ibrahim Traore took charge, dissolving the transitional government and suspending the constitution. On the economic front, the UN highlighted Burkina Faso, a country of 16 million people, as one of several west African nations facing an alarming level of hunger with the country facing the worst hunger crisis in six years with more than 630,000 people on the brink of starvation. Ibrahim Traor, who took power during a coup d'tat on 30 September 2022. CNN (modern). [13] In the following month, Traor questioned the planned restoration of democracy for 2024, stating that elections could not be held unless the insurgents were pushed back and the security situation had been improved. After sunrise, the normally bustling city was largely deserted, with soldiers on the streets blocking some roads and guarding key strategic points. There have been recent coups in the region: Mali, Guinea and Chad. Stay informed on the latest news on health and COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. The appointment to the strategic position followed an attack by fighters on a gendarmerie post in the northern town of Inata that killed 49 military officers and four civilians. He seems to have good political antennae, having refused to throw his weight behind a 2015 coup that proved to be so unpopular that the military relinquished power a mere seven days later, opening the way for Mr Kabor to be elected to office about two months later. There is no particular target, he told RFI. He turned on the president despite the fact that he had been promoted about seven weeks earlier to lead anti-terrorism operations in the volatile northern zone, which includes Ouagadougou, in what was seen as a military shake-up by Mr Kabor to tighten his grip on power and to placate troops angered by the killing of more than 50 security force members in November. But his administration has also not been able to quell the jihadist violence. [2] From 2006, he studied at the University of Ouagadougou where he was part of the Association of Muslim Students. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. MPSR, which includes all sections of the army, has decided to end President Kabores post today, a captain standing to the left of Damiba said, as he read a statement in the lieutenant colonels name on Radiodiffusion Television du Burkina (RTB). OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) - Burkina Faso's military leader Paul-Henri Damiba on Friday accused certain army units of creating a "confused situation", adding that discussions were ongoing to restore calm following heavy gunfire that raised fears of a coup, a statement on the presidency's Facebook said. Burkina Faso coup leader says 'situation is under control' Lt Col Damiba said there was a "confused situation" created by "mood swings" among some soldiers as rumours of a coup intensified. Burkina Faso unrest: Military officers remove leader Damiba List of heads of state of Burkina Faso - Wikipedia French business interests were also vandalized on Sunday morning. DAKAR (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council is set to vote on Friday to end a decade-long peacekeeping mission in Mali after the West African country's military junta abruptly asked the force to . The country has experienced eight successful coups since independence in 1960. On Friday afternoon, some protesters took to the capital's streets calling for the removal of Lt Col Damiba. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. - a book on the biggest crisis facing Burkina Faso, the Islamist insurgency which has left about 2,000 people dead since 2015 and about 300,000 children without education after their schools were forced to close. Burkina Faso: Military names coup leader as president - Premium Times But many citizens do not feel any safer and there have been protests in different parts of the country this week. There are many partners. The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. New military leader Traore says Paul-Henri Damiba was removed due to his inability to deal with a worsening armed uprising in the country. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ibrahim_Traor&oldid=1160076548, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 14 June 2023, at 08:27. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy. [7] Biography Ibrahim Traor (born 1988) is a Burkinab military officer who has been the interim leader of Burkina Faso since the 30 September 2022 coup d'tat which ousted interim president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. 27 March - Burkina Faso suspends France 24 broadcasts after the news agency aired an interview with the leader of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb earlier this month. President Paul-Henri Damiba led a coup this year against a civilian government that lost support over rising violence by Islamist extremists. Explainer-Why Mali Is Kicking Out U.N. Peacekeepers Burkina Faso's new self-proclaimed leader, Capt. This is a list of heads of state of Burkina Faso since the Republic of Upper Volta gained independence from France in 1960 to the present day. "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. Prior to being catapulted to the highest office in the land after overthrowing Dmaiba, Traore was a relatively low-ranking officer running an artillery regiment in a small northern town. He subsequently declared that "We really want to look at other horizons, because we want win-win partnerships", supporting the diversification of Burkina Faso's international partnerships. Damiba cited the failure of the Kabore administration to unite the country and control the deteriorating security situation as reasons for ousting the civilian government. Army officers appear on Burkina Faso TV, declare new coup The term limit has not been met by any president yet. IE 11 is not supported. Before dawn, shots and explosions were heard in the capital, Ouagadougou, some of them coming from near the presidential palace and main military barracks. Earlier on Friday, Lt Col Damiba urged the population to remain calm after heavy gunfire was heard in parts of the capital. [5], Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration, Voltaic Democratic Union African Democratic Rally, Organization for Popular Democracy Labour Movement, List of colonial governors of French Upper Volta, "Traore officially appointed as president of Burkina Faso after coup", "L'Assemble nationale: Cration et statut", "Salaire des agents de l'Etat: Ce que gagnent les hautes personnalits - leFaso.net, l'actualit au Burkina Faso", "Burkina Faso army captain announces overthrow of military government", "Circumvention of Term Limits Weakens Governance in Africa", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_heads_of_state_of_Burkina_Faso&oldid=1159874782, 858,399 FCFA annually including allowances, Organisation of African Peoples Burkina Faso, This page was last edited on 13 June 2023, at 02:37. Burkina Faso Military Leader Says Discussions Ongoing to Restore 'Calm and Serenity', President of Burkina Faso Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba visits 14th Inter-Arms Regiment soldiers in Djibo, Burkina Faso September 29, 2022 in this still image obtained from a video. President Joe Biden pledged a path forward albeit a longer path for student loan debt cancellation after the Supreme Court struck down his original plan. REUTERS/Vincent Bado OUAGADOUGOU, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Burkina Faso's new military leader Ibrahim Traore will respect a democratic transition timeline agreed between his predecessor and. That attack was a low point for Damibas government and likely played a role in inspiring what weve seen so far today, said Eric Humphery-Smith, senior Africa analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft. Video, Canada Day fireworks cancelled over air quality, Florida murder suspect arrested after 40 years, Designer can refuse gay couples, top US court says, Australia begins world-first MDMA therapy for PTSD, LGBT school policy change causes turmoil in Canada, Rescuers amputate leg of woman stuck in travelator. [6] The operation was carried out with support of the "Cobra" unit. People's Militia (Burkina Faso) The People's Militia ( French: Milice du Peuple) is a branch of the armed forces of Burkina Faso. The Burkinab government accused France 24 of being a "mouthpiece for terrorists " and "hate speech", which the agency denies as "unfounded". Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. [6] The dissatisfaction about the situation was highest among younger officers who fought against the rebels at the frontlines. OUAGADOUGOU, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Armed soldiers in fatigues and masks appeared on television in Burkina Faso on Friday night to confirm the ouster of President Paul-Henri Damiba, the second. Burkina Faso's military leader ousted in second coup this year Lt-Col Damiba's background is similar to that of many of Burkina Faso's military elite - he studied in France at a military academy and a prestigious institution where he got a Master's in criminal sciences, and served in the presidential guard of the now-exiled Blaise Compaor, who maintained strong ties with the former colonial power when he ruled with an iron-hand from 1987 to 2014. Damiba and his allies promised to make the country more secure, but violence has continued unabated and frustration with his leadership has grown in recent months. Are military takeovers on the rise in Africa? Hundreds of people, some waving Russian flags and supporting Traores takeover, gathered in protest in front of the French embassy on Saturday and Sunday, throwing stones and burning tires and debris on Saturday and early on Sunday. An army captain in Burkina Faso has announced on national television that he has ousted military leader Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba. That was confirmed when the delegates adopted an article of a charter which said the head of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR), the group of officers led by Traore, will be president of the transition, according to four sources in the room. [14], Some suspect Traor of having a connection with Russian mercenary organization Wagner Group. Damibas failure to stop the militant groups had led to anger in the ranks of the armed forces in the former French protectorate. We want the departure of Damiba and France, said Alassane Thiemtore who was among the protesters. None of the juntas have committed to a date for new elections, though Damiba said last week that the transition in Burkina Faso would last for almost two more years. ECOWAS is struggling to facilitate a return to constitutional order in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali, all of which have seen military takeovers since 2020. In neighbouring Mali, the junta invited Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group to help secure the country, though their deployment has drawn international criticism. Burkina Faso's military accused of killings, torture in latest Human Army revolt ousts Burkina Faso junta leader - DW - 09/30/2022 [2][5] Whether he was ever associated with the "Cobra" special forces, a counterterrorist unit founded in 2019, is disputed. A group of Burkina Faso army soldiers announced late Friday that they ousted junta leader Paul-Henri Damiba, who had himself come to power through a military coup . Burkina Faso Presidency/REUTERS TV via REUTERS. (Reporting by Anne Mimault; Writing by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Bate Felix). The former vice president has become the Democratic front-runner with primary victories across the country. Don't Abandon Burkina Faso - War on the Rocks Burkina Faso's new military leader Ibrahim Traore is escorted by soldiers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, October 2, 2022. OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) Gunfire rang out late Sunday near the home of Burkina Faso's embattled President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, raising the specter that a military coup might still be under way after mutinous soldiers seized a military base earlier in the day. But. Burkina Faso Coup Military Seizes Power in Burkina Faso - The New York The current head of state of Burkina Faso is Interim President Capt. The now-former president Damiba himself led a coup earlier this year against a civilian government that had lost support over rising violence by Islamist extremists. Yet the violence has failed to wane in the months since Damiba took over. Thousands have been killed in raids on rural communities and millions have been forced to flee despite Damibas promise to tackle insecurity following his coup in January. Burkina Faso, a poor, landlocked former French colony in the heart of West Africa, is dying. Upon his return, he took the leadership of the 30th RCAS, a regiment tasked with supporting Burkina Fasos counterterrorism strategy. [6] At age 34, Traor is the world's youngest currently serving state leader. Russia!. 02:02. Damiba took power in a coup in January that ousted democratically elected president Roch Marc Kabor. "This isn't an easy thing for a soldier to say but he is someone who says what he thinks," the source said. Togo had taken in Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba for . In his new post, Damiba proceeded to reorganise the military ranks, appointing new officers to key roles with the declared intent of battling the uprising. OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) - Unidentified assailants on Monday killed 31 soldiers and three members of the Homeland Defence Volunteers (VDP) in an attack in the Bam province in the country's Central . Ibrahim Traore cited Lt Col Damiba's inability to deal with an . Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. Beogo said Damiba has showed his limits during his short time in power. At least three separate videos shared on online on Saturday and Sunday showed soldiers atop armored personnel carriers, waving Russian flags, while the crowd around chanted Russia! Blockades of towns by armed groups have made it difficult for aid to reach those in need, the UN has said. [4], As of 2021, there is a two-term limit for the president in the Constitution of Burkina Faso. Many in Burkina Faso initially supported the military takeover, frustrated with the previous governments inability to stem Islamist violence that has killed thousands and displaced at least 2 million. Chrysogone Zougmore, president of the Burkina Faso Movement for Human Rights, called Fridays developments very regrettable, saying the instability would not help in the fight against the extremist violence. Prigozhin's rebellion raises questions about Wagner's African footprint It is a paramilitary militia, a part-time force of conscripted men and women between the age of 20 and 35, trained in both military and civil tasks [citation needed] and serving two years each. Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals, Reporting by Thiam Ndiaga In June, Mahamadou Issoufou, former president of Niger and a mediator between Burkina Faso and ECOWAS said Ouagadougou only controlled 60 percent of the country and the remaining territory was outside state control. We want cooperation with Russia. Burkina Faso mutinous soldiers guard the entrance of the national television station in Ouagadougou, Monday Jan. 24, 2022. There has been an outpouring of condemnation internationally for the overthrow of Damiba. Burkina Faso's military accused of killings, torture in latest Human Earlier this month, he also took over the position of defence minister after dismissing a brigadier general from the post. Since 2015, Burkina Faso has been caught up in an escalating wave of violence attributed to rebel fighters allied to both al-Qaeda and the ISIL (ISIS) group, killing thousands of people and further displacing two million. The leader of Burkina Faso's current coup, Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, has an extensive history of participating in U.S.-sponsored military training. Video, a 2015 coup that proved to be so unpopular that the military relinquished power a mere seven days later, Lt-Col Damiba took part in American military courses, the decision to use "already scarce public funds" to pay foreign mercenaries, Why Burkina Faso's coup has prompted celebrations, Why France faces so much anger in West Africa, West Africa faces up to policing its terror triangle, Florida murder suspect arrested after 40 years, Designer can refuse gay couples, top US court says, Australia begins world-first MDMA therapy for PTSD, Sex life of rare 'leopard-print' frog revealed, Rescuers amputate leg of woman stuck in travelator. Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. The comments followed a meeting with an ECOWAS delegation sent to meet the junta that took power last week in the second coup to hit the West African country this year. Burkina Faso's coup and political situation: All you need to know "He sees the issue of jihadist insurgencies as a complex problem, which cannot be solved through military means alone. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), attacks by armed groups increased by 23 percent in the five months after former leader Damiba took over. "We call for a return to calm and restraint by all actors," a State Department spokesperson said. For us, it is already a coup.. The Islamist insurgency broke out in Burkina Faso in 2015, leaving thousands dead and forcing an estimated two million people from their homes. [15] As Traor entered Ouagadougou, the nation's capital, supporters cheered, some waving Russian flags. Dozens of civilians are missing following the attack. Another statement said Traore would continue to act as president until a transitional civilian or military president is designated in the coming weeks. A curfew from 21:00 to 05:00 was also announced. Authorities in Burkina Faso are seeking security assistance to fend off a powerful Islamist militant insurgency, but U.S. officials are restricted in what they can provide as a result of the coup . Who is Burkina Faso coup leader Lt-Col Damiba? - BBC News Paul-Henri Damiba, leader of the January 24 coup in Burkina Faso, has been named the new head of state of the West African country for a transitional period, Aljazeera reports. Following the events in 2015, Damiba left the country to pursue further military studies, according to LObservateur, which did not provide further details on his time abroad. In October 2022, Burkina Faso's transitional military authorities launched a campaign to recruit 50,000 Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (Volontaires pour la dfense de la patrie, VDP . Who was Nahel M, shot by police in Nanterre? The unit was then dissolved by the transitional government, a move that caused resentment among some officers. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. Burkina Fasos self-declared military leader Captain Ibrahim Traore has accepted a conditional resignation offered by President Paul-Henri Damiba to avoid further violence after Fridays coup, religious and traditional leaders said on Sunday. Amid growing uncertainties, the UN voiced concern and appealed for calm. Hundreds of people in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, have been celebrating after the military seized power on Monday. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Damiba also denied he was at the base, saying the reports were a deliberate manipulation of public opinion. Among others, he participated in . [11] Traor denied this, claiming that "our Wagner are the VDP", referencing the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland. He resigned on October 31, 2014, following days of violent protest. Read about our approach to external linking. It faces one if not two jihadist insurgencies that have seized hold over much of the countryside, accompanied by horrific violence and displacement. The conservative court flexed its muscles. Sporting a red beret, Lt-Col Damiba sat impassively - as Reuters news agency put it - in a low-lit studio on Monday evening, leaving a captain to announce on state television that he had toppled President Roch Kabor, a former banker who is now his prisoner. Lt-Col Damiba also seems to be academically oriented, having authored West African Armies and Terrorism: Uncertain Responses? Little else is known of the 34-year-old and his supporting officers, he has claimed that he will not hold power for too long. France is a partner. Traor fought in the "Otapuanu offensive" of 2019 and several other counter-insurgency operations in the country's north. He anointed himself president just three weeks after celebrating his 41st birthday, making him the latest man in camouflage to overthrow a government, and raising fears that what UN chief Antnio Guterres last year called the "epidemic of coups" - in countries ranging from Sudan to Myanmar - could continue into the new year. Burkina Faso coup: Ousted military leader Damiba 'resigns' Supporters of Capt. Here are the key details of all that has happened: On January 24, Burkina Fasos army, led by Damiba, announced it had deposed President Roch Kabore after more than six years in power, following several days of unrest in the capital Ouagadougou. Ibrahim Traore: Who is the soldier behind Burkina Faso's latest coup Burkina Faso 's self-declared military leader Captain Ibrahim Traore has accepted a conditional resignation offered by President Paul-Henri Damiba to avoid further violence after Friday's. The 41-year-old officer had been promoted in December by Kabore to commander of Burkina Fasos third military region in what some analysts viewed as an effort by the beleaguered president to shore up support within the army. Burkina Faso president resigns on condition military coup leader The violence has killed thousands, displaced nearly two million and fuelled political instability. Both takeovers were spurred by frustrations over growing insecurity caused by a rampant Islamist insurgency that began in neighbouring Mali in 2012 and spread to other countries south of the Sahara Desert. "Damiba's actions gradually convinced us that his ambitions were diverting away from what we set out to do. Burkina Faso coup: ECOWAS mediator 'satisfied' after meeting new - CNN The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. The jury is out on that - some supporters of Lt-Col Damiba carried Russian flags as they celebrated the coup in Ouagadougou, calling on Russia to help in the fight against the militant Islamists. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Traore said earlier that order was being restored after violent protests against the French embassy and days of fighting as his faction moved to topple the government. A close family member told Reuters he left the country on Sunday. 2023 in Burkina Faso - Wikipedia