2015 Burkina Faso coup attempt
| 2015 Burkinabé coup | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
| Regiment of Presidential Security |
 Government of Burkina Faso | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
| General Gilbert Diendéré[1] |
Michel Kafando Yacouba Isaac Zida | ||||
The 2015 Burkinabé coup d'état was launched on 16 September 2015 in Burkina Faso, when members of the Regiment of Presidential Security (RSP) – a controversial autonomous military unit, formed under President Blaise Compaoré – detained the country's government. Among those detained were the transitional President Michel Kafando, Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac Zida (who was also the former deputy commander of the RSP), and numerous members of the cabinet.[2] This transitional government was formed in the wake of the 2014 Burkinabé uprising, when a popular movement overthrew the long-time president Compaoré, who himself had come to power in a 1987 coup against the left-wing leader Thomas Sankara.[3] New general elections were planned for 11 October 2015.[4]
Background
In the days immediately prior to the coup, the Regiment of Presidential Security (which has previously been involved in several alleged coup d'etat attempts during the Compaoré administration)[5][6] had come under intense public scrutiny. On 14 September 2015, it was reported that a commission charged with proposing post-uprising reforms had come to the conclusion that the RSP should be dismantled and its members redeployed. The report, submitted to Prime Minister Zida, described the RSP as "an army within an army".[7]
The coup
While one senior military source stated that the soldiers that apprehended the government members had made no demands, a civil society activist reported that they had demanded the resignation of transitional President Kafando.[8] Chériff Sy, President of the National Transitional Council, soon published a statement saying that dialogue was under-way between the military leadership and the "elements of the RSP" responsible for the coup, and noted that the country was in danger. Le Balai Citoyen, a grassroots Sankarist movement heavily involved in the 2014 uprising, called for the inhabitants of Ouagadougou to gather on the Revolution Square to protest the events.[9] After hundreds of protesters assembled outside of the presidential palace, soldiers fired warning shots to disperse them. They retreated, but did not disperse. Some were beaten back using batons, and gunfire was reported in the Ouaga 2000 neighborhood. Slogans such as "Down with the RSP" and "We want elections" were chanted by the protesters. The private station Radio Omega reported having been forcibly shut down by the Regiment of Presidential Security, and several other radio stations also went off air.[10]
In response to the coup, about 20 French soldiers from an intelligence gathering unit were deployed to Ouagadougou. Several international organizations condemned the events, with the United Nations, African Union and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) calling for those detained to be released, and voicing support for the country's democratic transition.[10]
On 17 September 2015, the coup leaders announced that they were dismissing Kafando, dissolving the government and the transitional legislature, and setting up a new transitional body, the National Council for Democracy, to lead the country to "inclusive and peaceful elections". In their proclamation of the National Council for Democracy, they denounced the transitional authorities for their allegedly undemocratic electoral law, which barred anyone who supported a 2014 proposal to eliminate term limits from standing in the October 2015 election, and for ignoring the recommendations of ECOWAS to scrap the exclusionary law.[11] General Gilbert Diendéré was appointed chairman of the council.[1]
Later in the day, Diendéré said that Compaoré had nothing to do with the coup and that the coup was supported by the rest of the army. He called for calm "so that we can continue on the path to inclusive and democratic elections" and appealed to the international community: "We know a coup is never accepted by the international community, but we ask it to understand the purpose of our action. We are committed to dialogue and accept certain principles of the international community." He stressed that he had no interest in politics and was only getting involved due to the "special situation", and he said that power would be returned to civilians "as soon as conditions are there".[12] In other comments, he said that presidential and parliamentary elections would be held on a new timetable, which would be determined through consultations with "the concerned actors, notably the political parties and civil society organisations". He also promised that the exclusionary electoral law would be changed so that all political forces could participate.[13]
On 18 September 2015, Diendéré said that Kafando had been released and Zida was under house arrest. The country's borders, which had been closed after the coup, were reopened.[14] On the same day, the African Union suspended Burkina Faso[15] and placed sanctions on the coup leaders. Two regional leaders—Macky Sall, the President of Senegal and Chairman of ECOWAS, and Boni Yayi, the President of Benin—travelled to Ouagadougou to hold talks with Diendéré.[16]
Following further talks on 19 September, Boni Yayi said that "good news" would be announced the next day.[17]
See also
References
- ^ a b Nadoun Coulibaly and Mathieu Bonkoungou, "Burkina Faso military spy chief seizes power, dissolves government", Reuters, 17 September 2015.
- ^ Ouedraogo, Brahima (16 September 2015). "Military detains Burkina Faso's president, prime minister weeks ahead of landmark vote". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ "Burkina Faso announces a transitional government". Al Jazeera. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ "Burkina Faso to hold presidential vote in October – interim government". Reuters. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015./
- ^ Africa South of the Sahara 2003. London: Psychology Press. 2002. p. 105. ISBN 185-743-131-6.
- ^ Europa World Year, Volume 1. London: Taylor & Francis. 2004. p. 923. ISBN 185-743-254-1.
- ^ Bonkoungou, Mathieu; Bavier, Joe (14 September 2015). "Burkina Faso presidential guard should be disbanded, panel says". Reuters. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ Coulibaly, Nadoun; Flynn, Daniel (16 September 2015). "Burkina Faso presidential guard detains cabinet – military sources". Reuters. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ "Burkina Faso : le président et le premier ministre retenus par des militaires En savoir plus sur". Le Monde (in French). 16 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
{{cite news}}: line feed character in|title=at position 78 (help) - ^ a b Flynn, Daniel (16 September 2015). "Burkina Faso presidential guard seize president and PM". Reuters. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ "Proclamation du Conseil National pour la Démocratie", Lefaso.net, 17 September 2015 Template:Fr icon.
- ^ "Burkina general says ex-president Compaore not linked to coup", Reuters, 17 September 2015.
- ^ Romaric Ollo Hien, "Burkina coup leader pledges elections 'soon' as three killed in protests", Agence France-Presse, 17 September 2015.
- ^ Mathieu Bonkoungou and Nadoun Coulibaly, "Burkina Faso coup leaders free president, reopen borders", Reuters, 18 September 2015.
- ^ Brahima Ouedraogo, "Burkina Faso junta frees interim president after coup", Associated Press, 18 September 2015.
- ^ Romaric Ollo Hien, "African Union suspends Burkina Faso, slaps sanctions on coup junta", Agence France-Presse, 18 September 2015.
- ^ Romaric Ollo Hien and Patrick Fort, "African mediators hint at 'good news' after Burkina coup talks", Agence France-Presse, 19 September 2015.