MOSCOW, October 2 – Novosti. The military seized power in Burkina Faso, led by Captain Ibrahim Traore, said that the situation in the country was “under control” and called on citizens to stop “acts of violence” against the French embassy.
Earlier Agence France-Presse reported that on Saturday afternoon a fire broke out outside the French embassy building. In addition, the agency added that a fire also broke out in front of the building of the French Institute in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso. The French Foreign Ministry condemned the attack on the building of the diplomatic mission and called for the safety of French diplomats. It was reported that on the night from Saturday to Sunday, protests continued in several areas of the capital of Burkina Faso , Ouagadougou , and a military helicopter flew over the city all night.
“We inform the population that the situation is under control and the situation will gradually return to order,” the military said in a statement published on the social media page of the national broadcaster RTB.
The rebels urged citizens to remain calm and “restraint”, as well as to stop “acts of violence or vandalism against the French embassy and military base.”
Earlier, the media reported that a military group in Burkina Faso, led by Captain Ibrahim Traore, announced the removal of the head of the country’s transitional government, Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, the suspension of the constitution in the country, the dissolution of the government and the closure of borders. The French Embassy in Burkina Faso said earlier that the French army had nothing to do with what was happening in the country.
Rebels in Burkina Faso seized power on January 24 on behalf of the Patriot Movement for Preservation and Restoration, led by Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, 41. They announced that they had dismissed the president of the country, Rock Mark Kabore, the country’s government was dissolved, the constitution was suspended. Later, the rebels decided to restore the constitution.
