September 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état
| September 2022 Burkinabé coup d'état | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Government of Burkina Faso |
Burkina Faso Armed Forces | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba | Ibrahim Traore | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Unclear | "Cobra" special forces[1] | ||||||
A coup d'état took place in Burkina Faso on 30 September 2022, removing Interim President Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba over his inability to deal with an Islamist insurgency. Damiba had come to power in a coup d'état just eight months earlier. Captain Ibrahim Traore took over as interim leader.
Background
The coup came in the aftermath of the January 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état. The January coup had been motivated by the Burkinabe government's inability to contain the jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso. A group of army officers overthrew President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, installing the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration military junta with Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba as its head.[2][3] The coup was initially welcomed by many in Burkina Faso, as the previous government had become deeply unpopular due to its failure to deal with the insurgency.[4]
However, the new regime was also unable to defeat the rebels, and instead lost even more territory to Jihadists and other militants.[2][3] By September 2022, nearly 40% of Burkina Faso was controlled by non-state forces. Meanwhile, Damiba fired his defense minister and assumed the position himself.[3][4] Several of the officers who had supported the January coup became dissatisfied with Damiba's rule, later claiming that he had not focused enough on defeating the insurgents and instead pursued his own goals.[2] These disgruntled officers were mainly young and served directly at the frontlines.[1] Public support for Damiba also declined.[4]
The dissatisfied elements, led by Captain Ibrahim Traore, thus planned their own coup.[2] Traore was serving as head of the "Cobra" special forces in Kaya, a town in Burkina Faso's north.[5] On 26 September, a supply convoy to the besieged northern town of Djibo was ambushed by rebels, leading to the death of eleven Burkinabe soldiers and the kidnapping of 50 civilians. This event further undermined public confidence in Damiba's government,[6] and possibly contributed to his eventual overthrow.[7]
Coup d'état
The coup began early in the morning when heavy gunfire and explosions were heard in several parts of the capital Ouagadougou, including in the Ouaga 2000 neighborhood that houses both the presidential and military junta headquarters.[3][8] Masked soldiers organized blockades in the capital's center;[6] the pro-coup troops appeared to mainly belong to the "Cobra" unit.[1] Clashes took place at a military base, Camp Baba Sy,[4] where Damiba was mainly based. Gunfire was also reported at the Kosyam Palace.[6] State TV went off the air. Hours later, the interim government admitted an "internal crisis" within the army and said talks were underway to reach a settlement.[3][8] On Facebook, Interim President Damiba admitted that there had been a "change in mood among certain elements of the national armed forces".[4] Negotiations between the revolting troops and the government were unsuccessful.[1]
As civilians realized that a coup was taking place, groups gathered in the capital to gather information or demonstrate support for the coup plotters.[4]
In the evening, Captain Traore announced that he and a group of officers had decided to remove Interim President Damiba due to his inability to deal with a worsening Islamist insurgency in the country. He imposed a curfew from 9:00 pm to 5:00 a.m., suspended all political and civil society activities, closed all air and land borders, and suspended the Constitution of Burkina Faso.[8][9] Traore also declared that he was the new head of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration. Meanwhile, Damiba was moved to Camp Kamboinsin, a military base for Burkina Faso's special forces.[1]
Reactions
The coup was described as "very regrettable" by the president of the country's Movement for Human Rights, who also criticised the military for its divisions and inability to combat extremism.[7]
The Economic Community of West African States condemned the coup.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Burkina : Ibrahim Traoré proclamé président, Damiba destitué". Jeune Afrique (in French). 30 September 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d Thiam Ndiaga; Anne Mimault (30 September 2022). "Burkina Faso army captain announces overthrow of military government". Reuters. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Burkina Faso army captain announces overthrow of military government". France24. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f Ruth Maclean (30 September 2022). "Gunfire Is Heard in Burkina Faso's Capital, Kindling Fears of a Coup". New York Times. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
- ^ a b "Burkina Faso: Military officers remove President Damiba in a coup". www.aljazeera.com. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- ^ a b c Henry Wilkins (30 September 2022). "Heavy Gunfire in Burkina Faso Capital, Soldiers on Streets". Voice of America. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
- ^ a b "Burkina Faso's military leader ousted in second coup this year". The Guardian. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- ^ a b c "Burkina Faso's military leader Damiba deposed, army captain says". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=requires|archive-url=(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Burkina: des militaires annoncent la dissolution du gouvernement, le capitaine Ibrahim Traoré prend la tête du pays". RFI (in French). 30 September 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
