Military in burkina faso confirms coup

“This incident is a flagrant violation of Burkina Faso’s Constitution and Transitional Charter”.

The head of Burkina Faso’s transitional parliament has called on the armed forces to step in and halt the coup by what he said “a small group” of military officials, and said he would assume leadership until the president was released.

“The Kingdom of Morocco supports efforts of the ECOWAS aimed at helping Burkina Faso to return to peace and stability”, added the Ministry.

During a broadcast on state television Thursday, Lt. Col. Mamadou Bamba declared a new “National Democratic Council” had put an end “to the deviant regime of transition” in Burkina Faso and the interim president had been stripped of his powers.

Kafando later announced that the presidential and legislative elections, due to complete the country’s transition, will take place on October. 11.

Compoare was deposed in a popular uprising in 2014.

Yesterday, soldiers loyal to ousted President Blaise Compaoré detained current President Michel Kafando, Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac Zida and several Government ministers.

Their public statement confirmed what many had suspected when the transitional president and prime minister were arrested on Wednesday and barricades were erected around the presidency.

The crisis started on Wednesday night when both officials, as well as other ministers were seized during one of their cabinet meetings.

Weeks before a scheduled national election to choose a new government, soldiers of Burkina Faso’s presidential guard say they’ve taken over the country.

She said the 28-nation EU stood with the United Nations and the African Union in condemning events in the capital Ouagadougou.

Soldiers in the capital, Ouagadougou, fired warning shots to disperse a crowd of protesters gathered in Independence Square, a Reuters witness said.

Transitional parliamentary speaker Cheriff Sy said the move was “clearly a coup”.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed outrage at the situation and call for the release of the hostages: “The Secretary-General calls for their immediate release”.

The landlocked, West-African state is considered a key ally of France and the U.S. in the fight against Islamist militants in the Sahel.