A slew of extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and instances of . Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals, Reporting by Anne Mimault and Thiam Ndiaga; Writing by Sofia Christensen and Nellie Peyton; Editing by Bate Felix, Robert Birsel and Josie Kao, Botswana, De Beers agree 'in principle' to new diamond sales deal, UN ends peacekeeping mission in Mali, US blames Russia's Wagner, Oil settles higher but posts fourth straight quarterly decline, Kenya's High Court blocks tax hikes in newly signed law, Venezuela bars leading opposition candidate Machado from holding office, UK's Sunak plans deal with Italy on Mediterranean migrants, the Telegraph reports, HDFC to merge into HDFC Bank on July 1, create Indias financial behemoth, Britain's Harry seeking up to $560,000 in phone-hacking lawsuit, WFP set to run out of money for food assistance to Afghans in October. 2 Oct 2022 Burkina Faso's overthrown military chief agreed to step down two days after army officers announced his deposition in the country's second coup in a year. New military leader Traore says Paul-Henri Damiba was removed due to his inability to deal with a worsening armed uprising in the country. All rights reserved. Traores team urged people to halt attacks on the French embassy, targeted by protesters after an officer said France had sheltered Damiba at a French military base in the West African country and that he was planning a counter-offensive. [16] The Government of Ghana publicly alleged that Traor began collaborating with the Wagner Group following the coup, enlisting the mercenaries against the jihadist rebels. Damiba resigned from his post on Sunday, fleeing to neighbouring Togo. All three countries are under military leadership and if it were to become a union it would be the largest country ruled by military junta. Army captain Ibrahim Traor was declared the country's leader on Friday night, replacing Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who himself had deposed a democratically elected president in January.. [2][3] After receiving his primary education in Bondokuy, he attended a high school in Bobo-Dioulasso where he became known as being "quiet" and "very talented". What comes next? Despite Damibas promises to improve the security situation in the country, the crisis worsened under his government. He also said the country would honour its international commitments, particularly regarding the protection of human rights, and would collaborate with ECOWAS evaluation mechanisms. He resigned on October 31, 2014, following days of violent protest. Burkina Faso Presidency/REUTERS TV via REUTERS. Burkina Faso is struggling with a violent insurgency waged by groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State that began in neighbouring Mali in 2012 and has spread to other countries south of the Sahara Desert. What comes next? Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. [7], Ibrahim Traor was born in Bondokuy, Mouhoun Province, in 1988. - a book on the biggest crisis facing Burkina Faso, the Islamist. Burkina Faso mutinous soldiers guard the entrance of the national television station in Ouagadougou, Monday Jan. 24, 2022. Frustration over growing insecurity spurred two coups in Burkina Faso this year, and two in Mali since 2020. A well-connected West African security source told the BBC: "He is not very talkative but when he does talk, you should take him seriously. The now-former president Damiba himself led a coup earlier this year against a civilian government that had lost support over rising violence by Islamist extremists. The 41-year-old officer had been promoted in December by Kabore to commander of Burkina Fasos third military region in what some analysts viewed as an effort by the beleaguered president to shore up support within the army. Members of Burkina Fasos army have seized control of state television, declaring that they had ousted military leader Paul-Henri Damiba, dissolved the government and suspended the constitution and transitional charter. A former French colony, Burkina Faso has suffered chronic instability since gaining independence in 1960, including several coups. Analysts have suggested Mondays coup started off as a mutiny in a military base hosting a prison where some of the key military figures that were involved in the 2015 coup attempt are imprisoned. The new junta's proposed transition charter is aligned with the previous one, approved during a similar meeting after Damiba seized power in January. Traore, the captain who led the Sept. 30 coup, was expected to be named head of Burkina Faso's interim government. Traore said earlier that order was being restored after violent protests against the French embassy and days of fighting as his faction moved to topple the government. REUTERS/Vincent Bado OUAGADOUGOU, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Burkina Faso's new military leader Ibrahim Traore will respect a democratic transition timeline agreed between his predecessor and. [11] Traor denied this, claiming that "our Wagner are the VDP", referencing the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland. Did coups in Mali and Burkina Faso halt jihadist attacks? People's Militia (Burkina Faso) The People's Militia ( French: Milice du Peuple) is a branch of the armed forces of Burkina Faso. There have been recent coups in the region: Mali, Guinea and Chad. Not all U.S. presidents are missed once they leave the White House. OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso The military seized power in Burkina Faso on Monday, ousting the country's democratically elected president after mutinous soldiers stormed his home, in the. The ousting of President Roch Kabor was unsettling but not unexpected . Splits have emerged within the army, with many soldiers appearing to seek Russian support, as the influence of former colonial power France wanes. The appointment to the strategic position followed an attack by fighters on a gendarmerie post in the northern town of Inata that killed 49 military officers and four civilians. A lieutenant colonel appointed to oversee security in Burkina Fasos capital has emerged as the leader of a military coup that overthrew President Roch Kabore after heavy gunfights in Ouagadougou. CNN [4][10] In the direct aftermath of the coup, Traor declared himself the new head of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration. US News is a recognized leader in college, grad school, hospital, mutual fund, and car rankings. He anointed himself president just three weeks after celebrating his 41st birthday, making him the latest man in camouflage to overthrow a government, and raising fears that what UN chief Antnio Guterres last year called the "epidemic of coups" - in countries ranging from Sudan to Myanmar - could continue into the new year. Earlier this week at least 11 soldiers were killed and 50 civilians went missing after a supply convoy was attacked by gunmen in Gaskinde commune in Soum province in the Sahel. Lt Col Damiba's junta overthrew an elected government in January, citing a failure to halt Islamist attacks. Many saw parallels with the country's charismatic 1980s military leader, Thomas Sankara, who was assassinated . [1/8]Burkina Faso's self-declared new leader Ibrahim Traore is welcomed by supporters holding Russian's flags as he arrives at the national television standing in an armoured vehicle in . The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Paul-Henri Sandaogo. Read about our approach to external linking. All that matters when the level of security returns is the fight, its development.. On Thursday, he had given a speech in Djibo, in Burkina Fasos volatile north. Beogo said Damiba has showed his limits during his short time in power. They were taking their cue from Mali, where the junta is said to have brought in Russia's controversial Wagner group to defeat the insurgents, to the chagrin of 15 European nations who - along with Canada - issued a statement in December saying they "deeply regret" the decision to use "already scarce public funds" to pay foreign mercenaries. An army captain in Burkina Faso has announced on national television that he has ousted military leader Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba. ECOWAS reaffirms its unequivocal opposition to any seizure or maintenance of power by unconstitutional means, it said in a statementshared on social media. That was confirmed when the delegates adopted an article of a charter which said the head of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR), the group of officers led by Traore, will be president of the transition, according to four sources in the room. [2][5] Whether he was ever associated with the "Cobra" special forces, a counterterrorist unit founded in 2019, is disputed. A total of seven people have served as head of state of Upper Volta/Burkina Faso (not counting four Transitional Heads of State/Presidents and one Acting President in rebellion). The military . France told its citizens in Ouagadougou, believed to number between 4,000 and 5,000, to stay home, while the European Union expressed concern at the unfolding events. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. A group of Burkina Faso army soldiers announced late Friday that they ousted junta leader Paul-Henri Damiba, who had himself come to power through a military coup . He announced that borders were closed indefinitely and that all political and civil society activities were suspended. "We have more than what it takes to win this war," the junta chief said when he was sworn in as president in February. [8] When the plotters launched their coup on 30 September, Traor still held the rank of Captain. He later testified in the trial of conspirators behind the coup, according to reports from the time in Burkinabe media, discussing his contacts with some of the putschists. The US Africa Command confirmed to The New York Times that Lt-Col Damiba took part in American military courses and exercises between 2010 and 2020, and received instruction on the law of armed conflict, and respect for human rights. He also announced that borders were closed indefinitely and all political activities were suspended. More than 20 armed soldiers - most with their faces covered - appeared on state TV shortly before 20:00 local time. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. [1/2]Burkina Faso's new military leader Ibrahim Traore is escorted by soldiers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. On December 3, Kabore entrusted Damiba with protecting Ouagadougou from the threats posed by a religious rebellion. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. As a contrast to Kabore, who was faulted by the army for the rising rebel violence, Damiba has sought to present himself as an expert in countering terrorism. For him, results on the grounds are what matters.". Burkina Faso's new military leader Ibrahim Traore is escorted by soldiers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, October 2, 2022. Tensions have been high in Burkina Faso since Friday, with clashes occurring between protesters and security forces. Blockades of towns by armed groups have made it difficult for aid to reach those in need, the UN has said. Among others, he participated in . Video, Canada Day fireworks cancelled over air quality, Florida murder suspect arrested after 40 years, Designer can refuse gay couples, top US court says, Australia begins world-first MDMA therapy for PTSD, LGBT school policy change causes turmoil in Canada, Rescuers amputate leg of woman stuck in travelator. Burkina Faso 's self-declared military leader Captain Ibrahim Traore has accepted a conditional resignation offered by President Paul-Henri Damiba to avoid further violence after Friday's. [8][2], Traor was part of the group of army officers that supported the January 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'tat and brought the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration military junta to power. In a statement read on national television late on Friday, Captain Ibrahim Traore said a group of officers had decided to remove Damiba due to his inability to deal with a worsening Islamist insurgency. Another statement said Traore would continue to act as president until a transitional civilian or military president is designated in the coming weeks. According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), attacks by armed groups increased by 23 percent in the five months after former leader Damiba took over. Ibrahim Traor, who took power during a coup d'tat on 30 September 2022. They did not name the partners, but observers and supporters said the soldiers want closer partnership with Russia, as did the soldiers who seized power in neighboring Mali in August 2020. "We call for a return to calm and restraint by all actors," a State Department spokesperson said. France is a partner. Chrysogone Zougmore, president of the Burkina Faso Movement for Human Rights, called Fridays developments very regrettable, saying the instability would not help in the fight against the extremist violence. Burkina Faso needs peace, it needs stability, and it needs unity in order to fight terrorist groups and criminal networks operating in parts of the country, UN spokesperson Stphane Dujarric said. OUAGADOUGOU, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Burkina Faso's new military leader Ibrahim Traore will respect a democratic transition timeline agreed between his predecessor and West Africa regional bloc ECOWAS, he said in a statement late on Tuesday. Burkina Faso's new coup leader Captain Ibrahim Traore gives a news conference on October 2, 2022 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. In October 2022, Burkina Faso's transitional military authorities launched a campaign to recruit 50,000 Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (Volontaires pour la dfense de la patrie, VDP . He subsequently declared that "We really want to look at other horizons, because we want win-win partnerships", supporting the diversification of Burkina Faso's international partnerships. Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. Ibrahim Traore cited Lt Col Damiba's inability to deal with an Islamist insurgency as the reason for his overthrow, Lt Col Damiba urged the population to remain calm after heavy gunfire was heard in parts of the capital on Friday, The surprising truth about frozen fruit. Ibrahim Traore cited Lt Col Damiba's inability to deal with an . Burkina Faso's military government has suspended a French television news channel for a report . For us, it is already a coup.. It is time for these reactionary and political military factions to stop leading Burkina Faso adrift.. Some demonstrators voiced support for Russian involvement in order to stem the violence, and shouted slogans critical of France, Burkina Fasos former coloniser. Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights, started off as a mutiny in a military base. It is a paramilitary militia, a part-time force of conscripted men and women between the age of 20 and 35, trained in both military and civil tasks [citation needed] and serving two years each. Here are the key details of all that has happened: On January 24, Burkina Fasos army, led by Damiba, announced it had deposed President Roch Kabore after more than six years in power, following several days of unrest in the capital Ouagadougou. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ibrahim_Traor&oldid=1160076548, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 14 June 2023, at 08:27. We decided this day to remove Damiba," it said. Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. Burkina Faso Presidency/REUTERS TV via REUTERSReuters. Paul-Henri Damiba, leader of the January 24 coup in Burkina Faso, has been named the new head of state of the West African country for a transitional period, Aljazeera reports. [12] After ending military cooperation with France, it was considered likely by observers that Traor was "eyeing Russian military help".[14]. Burkina Faso has become the epicenter of attacks carried out by groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State, after violence that began in neighboring Mali in 2012 spread to other countries south of the Sahara Desert. VideoThe surprising truth about frozen fruit, What Titan sub wreckage can tell us about the tragedy. The statement came after a day of uncertainty, with gunfire ringing out in the capital, Ouagadougou. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. At least three separate videos shared on online on Saturday and Sunday showed soldiers atop armored personnel carriers, waving Russian flags, while the crowd around chanted Russia! Burkina Faso, a poor, landlocked former French colony in the heart of West Africa, is dying. The country's name, meaning "land of . [7] Biography Who was Nahel M, shot by police in Nanterre? Six Coups. He has now been ousted by the same armed forces that helped him gain power. African Union chief Moussa Faki Mahamat condemned the unconstitutional change of government and urged the government to prevent acts of violence and threats to the civilian populations. Some in the country have argued the government should seek help from Moscow, mirroring the route neighbouring Mali has taken in allowing the private Russian mercenary firm Wagner group to operate within its borders. The leader of Burkina Faso's current coup, Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, has an extensive history of participating in U.S.-sponsored military training. This week, at least 11 soldiers died in an attack in northern Burkina Faso. June 20, 2023. The 41-year-old officer was promoted in December to commander of Burkina Faso's third military region by. After sunrise, the normally bustling city was largely deserted, with soldiers on the streets blocking some roads and guarding key strategic points. Read about our approach to external linking. Watch the moment the military announced its takeover on live TV. President Paul-Henri Damiba led a coup this year against a civilian government that lost support over rising violence by Islamist extremists. The 34-year-old Traore said on Friday evening that a group of officers had decided to remove Damiba due to his inability to deal with an armed uprising in the country that has worsened in the past nine months. The jury is out on that - some supporters of Lt-Col Damiba carried Russian flags as they celebrated the coup in Ouagadougou, calling on Russia to help in the fight against the militant Islamists. Burkina Faso's ousted military ruler has gone to neighbouring Togo after rival officers seized power in a coup on Friday, Togo's government has said. An Al Qaeda branch this week claimed an attack that killed at least 27 soldiers in northern Burkina Faso days before the coup unfolded. [2], Promoted to lieutenant in 2014, Traor joined MINUSMA, a United Nations peacekeeping force involved in the Mali War. Little else is known of the 34-year-old and his supporting officers, he has claimed that he will not hold power for too long. Damibas failure to stop the militant groups had led to anger in the ranks of the armed forces in the former French protectorate. Following the events in 2015, Damiba left the country to pursue further military studies, according to LObservateur, which did not provide further details on his time abroad. OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) - Burkina Faso's military leader Paul-Henri Damiba on Friday accused certain army units of creating a "confused situation", adding that discussions were ongoing to restore calm following heavy gunfire that raised fears of a coup, a statement on the presidency's Facebook said. Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. The coups, including one in Chad, have raised concern of a backslide in democracy in West and Central Africa against the backdrop of rampant Islamist insurgency. In his speech, Damiba defended his January coup as an issue of survival for our nation, even if it was perhaps reprehensible to the international community. in which he analysed anti-terrorism strategies in the Sahel region and their limits. Compaor was born into a family of the Mossi ethnic group, one of the dominant ethnic groups in Upper Volta, and was . The 41-year-old officer was promoted in December to commander of Burkina Fasos third military region by President Kabore. Damiba and his allies promised to make the country more secure, but violence has continued unabated and frustration with his leadership has grown in recent months. A curfew from 21:00 to 05:00 was also announced. OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) Gunfire rang out late Sunday near the home of Burkina Faso's embattled President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, raising the specter that a military coup might still be under way after mutinous soldiers seized a military base earlier in the day. [6] At age 34, Traor is the world's youngest currently serving state leader. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Ibrahim Traor, who took power during a coup d'tat on 30 September 2022. The West African regional bloc Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended Burkina Faso from the organisation, demanding the Damiba-led government hold elections as soon as possible. The violence has killed thousands, displaced nearly two million and fuelled political instability. Traore has made a commitment in statements to a democratic transition timeline agreed between his predecessor, Paul-Henri Damiba, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to restore constitutional order by July 2024. Lt Col Damiba said there was a "confused situation" created by "mood swings" among some soldiers as rumours of a coup intensified. Damiba also denied he was at the base, saying the reports were a deliberate manipulation of public opinion. According to several sources such as BBC, Al Jazeera, and Die Tageszeitung, he was part of the unit at some point. 0. On Monday, 11 soldiers were killed when they were escorting a convoy of civilian vehicles in the north of the country. ECOWAS said that it came at an inopportune time when progress was being made towards a return to constitutional order in the West African state. In 2015, Damiba and other officers took part in an attempted coup that briefly deposed the transitional government. [4] Term limits As of 2021, there is a two-term limit for the president in the Constitution of Burkina Faso. But many citizens do not feel any safer and there have been protests in different parts of the country this week. Burkina Faso this week joined a list of countries that have recently experienced military takeovers most plagued by insecurity, poor governance and frustrated youth. While the move sparked some celebration among anti-government protesters, international actors expressed concern about the move, including nations the United States and France. Hundreds of people, some waving Russian flags and supporting Traores takeover, gathered in protest in front of the French embassy on Saturday and Sunday, throwing stones and burning tires and debris on Saturday and early on Sunday. A close family member told Reuters he left the country on Sunday. Traore led the coup that ousted military leader Paul-Henri Damiba, who had seized power in a previous coup in January and promised ECOWAS to restore civilian rule by July 2024. The current head of state of Burkina Faso is Interim President Capt. In his new post, Damiba proceeded to reorganise the military ranks, appointing new officers to key roles with the declared intent of battling the uprising. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. "He is a born leader and is very close to the men he commands, rather than keeping his distance from them.