1st October 2022, 06:50 WATNew Informate 1 October 2022, 14:12 WAT
It was on Friday that news was given that one captain in army at Burkina Faso has announce for national television that he has overthrow the military leader Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba.
Ibrahim Traore says it was because of Col Damiba can’t deal with the Islamist insurgency.
He also says that they dismissed Lieutenant Colonel Damiba from power so “that we can able to pursue our common ideal with the Burkinabe people, and this is to: restore security and the integrity of our territory. “
I’m also announce that borders had been closed indefinitely and all political activities have being suspended.
Lt Col Damiba junta overthrow one elected government in January, and it can be the reason they can’t end Islamist attacks.
But his administration never stop the jihadist violence. On Monday, gunmen kill 11 soldiers as they escort convoy of civilian vehicles at the north part of the country.
Earlier on Friday, Lt Col Damiba urge the population to remain calm after he heard heavy gunfire at the capital.
This was the second military that takeover the West African country in eight months. Lt Col Damiba removed the democratically elected President Roch Kabore in January and promises to end the Islamist insurgency.
Full speech of Captain Traore after he overthrow Damiba
People of Burkina Faso, my fellow country men and women,
On January 24, 2022, in the presence of the continuous degradation of the security situation, we officers and soldiers of the national army decide to take our responsibilities, we encouraged with the ideal to restore security and integrity to our territory.
Combattant people of Burkina Faso, this noble cause that motivate our action still burning inside many of us today September 30th 2022. Unfortunately, Lt Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba which all of us trusted but he betrayed our initial ideal.
In fact, he pushed the degradation of the security situation that will justify our action to focus on unfortunate political adventures.
Instead of make it free territories that is occupied, new areas that fall under the control of terrorist groups. Our brave people suffer too much and they still suffering.
People of Burkina Faso, in the presence of the continuous degradation of the security situation, we tried many times to refocus transition of the security situation.
As we are conscious of our responsibility, we don’t elaborate one program for the reorganization of army that suppose to allow operationalise fighting units with the capable of launching counter-offensives.
Colonel Damiba, was reject the proposition,he continue with the military articulation that cause the failure of the regime of President Roch Marc Christian Kabore.
Brave people of Burkina Faso, the actions of Lieutenant Colonel Damiba convince us that he ambition not the same with our common ambition.
We been observe a restoration by force of old order by acts of jeopardise as the independence of the justice system and create serious precedents.
Dangerous choices of Lieutenant Colonel Damiba progressively weaken our security system. Heavy administrative processes our previous regime become serious more in terms of transition, and it affect strategic operations.
Sake of all of this, we decide today on September 30th 2022 to dismiss Lieutenant Colonel Damiba from power so we can pursue our common ideal with the Burkinabe people, and this is to: restore security and the integrity of our territory.
My fellow country men and women, as we are conscious of our historic responsibility, MPSR hereby call all security forces to focus on the security situation and re-establish the integrity of our territory.
To take power at this moment meant that the strong of MPSR is to include all social classes of Burkina Faso, without any distinction for the transition process, for our common struggle.
MPSR reassure the international community says that Burkina Faso will continue to respect their international commitments, that is human rights.
We invite the brave people of Burkina Faso to continue with their activities in peace.
What Really Happen Since
Earlier on Friday, Lt Col Damiba asked the population to remain calm after heavy gunfire sound at one parts of the capital.
One spokesman in the government that was sack, Lionel Bilgo, says AFP news agency on Friday that the “crisis” was sake of army payment problem, and says Lt Col Damiba was taking part for the negotiations.
But since on Friday evening we don’t know whereabouts of Lt Col Damiba his.
France was traditionally similar with, but French diplomatic sources was RFI radio says Lt Col Damiba is not with them and is not under their protection.
The African Union meanwhile have demand the return of constitutional order on July 2023 at the latest, and the same statement, the commission chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat asked the military to “immediately and totally stop any act of violence or threats in any civilian population, civil liberties, human rights”.
The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) earlier condemn the move too, says that “reaffirm in unreserved opposition that taking or maintaining the power by unconstitutional means”.
The United States says that they “deeply concerned” of events in Burkina Faso and encourage the citizens to limit movements in the country.
France issue a similar warning to more than 4,000 citizens that is still live in the capital city Ouagadougou.”We called to return the calm and restraint by all actors,” one US State Department spokesman made the comment.
What will happen next lockdown will draw condemnation from across the world.
After the coup that happen earlier in January, 2022, the African Union suspend Burkina Faso from all activities in response, they says it will be effective until constitutional orderwill restored.
West Africa main regional block the Economic Community of West African States, Ecowas was also suspend Burkina Faso from the governing bodies over the military coup but they didn’t impose any sanctions.
World leaders from America, France and other countries also condemn the coup.
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres says on his statement that he“strongly condemn any attempted that trying to takeover the goment by force of arms.
“lockdown leaders must lay down arms” he said in part of his statement post on Twitter.
What the new regime says?
The movement patriotic pour la sauvegarde et la restauration, MPSR, says they met on September 30th inside Ouagadougou and decide that Lt Colonel Paul Herny Damiba will be dismissed from the position of MPSR president.
It was says that they made Captain Traore Ibrahim as the new president of MPSR.
The MPSR has informed the national and international community, this is all that happened so far.
- The constitution has suspended
- The transition chart has been dissolved
- The government has been dissolved
- The transition legislative assembly has been dissolved
- Terrestrial and aerial borders has been closed started on September 30th at the midnight until further notice.
- Curfew has enforced from 9 pm to 5 am
- All political activities has been suspended
- All activities of civil society organisations has been suspended
- Representatives of different strategies of the nation will be summoned soon to adopt new transition chart and nominate new president of Burkina Faso, civil or military