Protesters have taken to the streets after a military junta declared a military coup in Burkina Faso on Friday night. Shots were fired at the French embassy in the country’s capital on Saturday evening, reports the Reuters news agency, which has a journalist on the scene. Several videos on social media show the embassy on fire. On Friday evening, a group of soldiers appeared on national television in Burkina Faso and declared a military coup in the country. Photo: AP / AP The military junta has ousted the previous leader, suspended the constitution, closed the borders and dissolved the government. They claim the weak security situation in the country justifies the coup. The new leader will be the military captain Ibrahim Traore. A man waves a Burkina Faso flag on Friday, September 30. Photo: OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT / AFP This is the second military coup in the country in eight months. Earlier on Friday, shootings were reported at the presidential palace in the capital. Several main roads in the big city were blocked by soldiers and state television went black. Burkina Faso, a former French colony, became independent in 1960. In March 2018, there was also shooting near the French embassy. At least 28 people were killed in connection with the attack. Close to two million on the run The West African country has been ravaged by violence since the former military leader, Paul-Henri Damiba, took power in January. In the same way as in neighboring countries, rebels with links to al-Qaeda and IS have caused unrest. Over 2,000 people have been killed, and the authorities have lost control over around 40 percent of the country. Nearly two million have been displaced since 2015. Burkina Faso is one of the least developed in the world and struggles with hunger and an unpredictable climate. The country has a population of 20 million. Facts about Burkina Faso Former French colony in West Africa bordering Mali, Niger, Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Togo. 17.3 million inhabitants. Capital: Ouagadougou. One of the world’s least economically developed countries. Few natural resources. Blaise Compaoré became president after a coup in 1987. He was re-elected four times, most recently in 2010. Compaoré fled the country after large demonstrations in 2014 and the army seized power. Compaoré is internationally wanted for premeditated murder, and currently lives in exile in neighboring Ivory Coast. When Burkina Faso elected a new president in November 2015 for the first time in 30 years, Campaore’s former prime minister Roch Marc Kabore (58) walked away with the victory. Source: NTB/news
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