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A Burkina Faso military captain on Friday introduced the ouster of army chief Paul-Henri Damiba and the suspension of the nation's structure and transitional constitution in a press release learn on nationwide tv.
Military Captain Ibrahim Traoré mentioned a bunch of officers had determined to take away Damiba attributable to his lack of ability to cope with a worsening Islamist insurgency.
He introduced that Burkina Faso's borders had been closed indefinitely and that every one political and civil society actions had been suspended.
Round 15 troopers in fatigues appeared on the Radio-Tv broadcaster shortly earlier than 8pm native time and skim out the assertion.
"We have decided to take our responsibilities, driven by a single ideal – the restoration of security and integrity of our territory," they mentioned.
Reporting from the capital Ouagadougou shortly after the takeover announcement, FRANCE 24’s Sophie Lamotte mentioned a curfew has been imposed from 9pm to 5am native time.
“The streets are very calm and there’s a very strong military presence in the capital, especially surrounding the presidential palace and the telecommunication headquarters,” she mentioned.
Earlier Friday, gunfire rang out in Ouagadougou and the state broadcaster went off air amid fears of a coup. Troopers had been seen on the metropolis's predominant crossroads, particularly within the Ouaga 2000 neighbourhood, but additionally exterior the state tv centre.
Rein in jihadists
Violence has lengthy wracked the landlocked West African nation the place Damiba took energy in a January coup, ousting elected chief Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.
Damiba has pledged to revive civilian rule inside two years and to defeat the armed factions.
As in bordering nations, insurgents affiliated with al Qaeda and the Islamic State group have stoked the unrest.
1000’s have died and about two million have been displaced by the combating since 2015 when the insurgency unfold into Burkina Faso, which has since develop into the epicentre of the violence throughout the Sahel.
Damiba earlier this month sacked his defence minister and assumed the position himself.
The mini-shuffle, the primary for the reason that appointment of a transitional authorities in March, noticed just one new minister launched – Colonel-Main Silas Keita was named minister delegate answerable for nationwide defence and promoted to brigadier normal.
Greater than 40 % of Burkina Faso, a former French colony, is exterior authorities management.
Assaults have elevated since mid-March, regardless of the junta's vow to make safety its high precedence.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)
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