Burkina Faso records second Military coup in eight months 

Military authorities in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital have announced an overthrow of the government, removing Military President Paul-Henri Damiba and suspending the constitution and transitional charter.

The announcement is coming after incidences of heavy gunfire were reported near the main military barracks, a large blast near the presidential palace, and an interruption of national TV programs in the country.

What reasons did they give for the overthrow?

A statement signed by the coup leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore, and read by Kiswendsida Farouk Azaria Sorgho on national television said some disgruntled group of officers, who participated in the January 24 coup that brought Damiba into power, decided to remove him due to his inability to handle the fight against Islamic insurgents and other similar issues for which President Roch Kabore was deposed eight months ago.

Traore accused Damiba of rejecting the proposal by military officers to reorganize the army but rather, continued with a similar structure that led to the fall of the previous regime.

“Failed with the deteriorating situation, we tried several times to get Damiba to refocus the transition on the security question. Damiba’s actions gradually convinced us that his ambitions were diverting away from what we set out to do. We decided this day to remove him” the statement read in part.

What else?

Army Captain Ibrahim Traore was announced as the new military President of the ruling junta. The new junta also revealed that they will convene a National Stakeholder’s conference to adopt a new transitional charter and designate a new civilian or military president.