Moussa Faki Mahamat who is the African Union chief has on Saturday condemned the “unconstitutional change of government” which had taken place in Burkina Faso after some of the military officers had also ousted junta leader Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba.
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The dismissal of Lieutenant-Colonel Damiba, who himself came to power in a coup last January, had also been announced late Friday in a statement which had been read out on national television.
The disgruntled officers had also announced the closure of borders from midnight, as well as the suspension of the constitution and the dissolution of the government of the country.
Faki said he was deeply concerned about the resurgence of unconstitutional ousters in the West African nation and elsewhere on the continent.
The coup is also the latest bout of turmoil to strike Burkina Faso which is a landlocked state that has suffered chronic instability since gaining independence from France in 1960.
The AU suspended the country on January 31 “until the restoration of constitutional order”.
Africa has been hit by a spate of coups in recent years.
In another report, some military officers on Friday night confirmed the removal from office of Burkina Faso’s junta leader.
Africa Today News, New York reports that the dismissal of Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who had seized power in a coup last January, was announced in a statement read out on national television.
The rebelling military also ordered the immediate the closure of borders from midnight, as well as the suspension of the constitution and the dissolution of the government.
Ibrahim Traore cited Lt. Col. Damiba’s inability to deal with an Islamist insurgency as the reason for his ouster.
He also announced that borders were closed indefinitely and all political activities were suspended.
Lt Col Damiba’s junta overthrew an elected government in January, 2022, citing a failure to halt Islamist attacks.
But his administration has also not been able to quell the jihadist violence. On Monday, 11 soldiers were killed when they were escorting a convoy of civilian vehicles in the north of the country.
Earlier on Friday, Lt Col Damiba urged the population to remain calm after heavy gunfire was heard in parts of the capital.