While several media sources had already announced it but the Burkinabe government was still trying to reassure otherwise, the army confirmed they have deposed President Christian Kabore. They said so in a broadcast statement yesterday January 24.

According to the statement, the country is now run by Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba (pictured), who heads the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR). “The National Assembly is dissolved. Air and land borders are closed from January 24, 2022, at midnight, until further notice," the military said. “A curfew now runs from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. throughout the national territory, from this day until further notice,” they added.

This is yet another coup in West Africa after the recent episodes in Mali and Guinea. Burkina Faso has long been in a delicate security context marked by growing terrorist violence in the Sahel. Although President Kaboré has promised to fight the terrorists, he has been heavily criticized for his strategy in managing the crisis. Several soldiers had expressed discontent with the situation and called on the political authorities to strengthen the military resources.

As a reminder, President Kaboré was elected in 2015 after a period of political unrest that saw the military take power twice, after the fall of former president Blaise Compaoré.    

Moutiou Adjibi Nourou