In June, Mahamadou Issoufou, former president of Niger and a mediator between Burkina Faso and ECOWAS said Ouagadougou only controlled 60 percent of the country and the remaining territory was outside state control. [6] The operation was carried out with support of the "Cobra" unit. Maria Corina Machado, one of the favorites to win the Venezuelan opposition's nomination for president in an October primary, has been barred from holding public office for 15 years, the country's controller general said in a letter. But the security source the BBC spoke to said they did not expect Lt-Col Damiba to be beholden to any foreign power. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The current head of state of Burkina Faso is Interim President Capt. Ibrahim Traor Ibrahim Traor (born 1988) is a Burkinab military officer who has been the interim leader of Burkina Faso since the 30 September 2022 coup d'tat which ousted interim president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. 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. 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. Beogo said Damiba has showed his limits during his short time in power. 2023 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. A collection of moments during and after Barack Obama's presidency. 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. 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. Blaise Compaor, (born February 3, 1951, Ouagadougou, Upper Volta, French West Africa [now in Burkina Faso]), military leader and politician who ruled Burkina Faso from 1987, seizing power following a coup. Both takeovers were spurred by frustrations over growing insecurity caused by a rampant Islamist insurgency that began in neighbouring Mali in 2012 and 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. 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.. 2023 BBC. 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. - a book on the biggest crisis facing Burkina Faso, the Islamist insurgency which has left about 2,000 people dead since 2015 and about 300,000 children without education after their schools were forced to close. 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. [10] In addition, there were delays in pay for the "Cobra" troops. Splits have emerged within the army, with many soldiers appearing to seek Russian support, as the influence of former colonial power France wanes. Lt-Col Damiba's background is similar to that of many of Burkina Faso's military elite - he studied in France at a military academy and a prestigious institution where he got a Master's in criminal sciences, and served in the presidential guard of the now-exiled Blaise Compaor, who maintained strong ties with the former colonial power when he ruled with an iron-hand from 1987 to 2014. On Monday, 11 soldiers were killed when they were escorting a convoy of civilian vehicles in the north of the country. Ibrahim Traore, center, at a news conference in Ouagadougou on Sunday. Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights, started off as a mutiny in a military base. The soldiers promised the international community they would respect their commitments and urged Burkinabes to go about their business in peace.. For us, it is already a coup.. [4][10] In the direct aftermath of the coup, Traor declared himself the new head of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. 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Sporting a red beret, Lt-Col Damiba sat impassively - as Reuters news agency put it - in a low-lit studio on Monday evening, leaving a captain to announce on state television that he had toppled President Roch Kabor, a former banker who is now his prisoner. Schoolchildren are trained on what to do if insurgents attack, The surprising truth about frozen fruit. The United States said it was "deeply concerned" by events in Burkina Faso and encouraged its citizens to limit movements in the country. 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. 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. He also announced that borders were closed indefinitely and all political activities were suspended. Deciphering Putin's many appearances since mutiny, Why a Japanese horse festival came under fire, 'Instead of saving us they sank the boat', India nurse who delivered more than 10,000 babies, Revellers and reflections: Photos of the week, The surprising truth about frozen fruit. Though they have become political pariahs in much of Africa and the West for seizing power through the barrel of the gun, the trio appear to have significant public support in their countries - all former French colonies. Russia!. More recently, Lt-Col Damiba received military training from the US, as it increasingly turned its attention to West Africa to fight militant Islamists who have gained a foothold in the region. Many in Burkina Faso initially supported the military takeover, frustrated with the previous governments inability to stem Islamist violence that has killed thousands and displaced at least 2 million. Damibas failure to stop the militant groups had led to anger in the ranks of the armed forces in the former French protectorate. He studied at a military academy in Paris, obtaining a masters degree in criminal sciences from the Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers. Holding the grand title of "President of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration", Lt-Col Damiba forms the West African triumvirate of military rulers - along with Guinea's charismatic Col Mamady Doumbouya, who was also born in 1981, and Mali's bearded Col Assimi Gota, who is the youngest of the trio, having been born in 1983. REUTERS/Vincent Bado. Traor later claimed that he and other officers had tried to get Damiba to "refocus" on the rebellion, but eventually opted to overthrow him as "his ambitions were diverting away from what we set out to do". Paul-Henri Sandaogo. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. An army captain in Burkina Faso has announced on national television that he has ousted military leader Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba. "As far as we're concerned, it's not a coup," school teacher Julienne Traore told AFP news agency as crowds celebrated in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou. President Paul-Henri Damiba led a coup this year against a civilian government that lost support over rising violence by Islamist extremists. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Lt-Col Damiba also seems to be academically oriented, having authored West African Armies and Terrorism: Uncertain Responses? According to LObservateur newspaper, Damiba quit the RPS in 2011 following a wave of protests and a violent army mutiny. [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. [5], Many supporters of the January coup became dissatisfied with the performance of Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, the junta's leader, regarding his inability to contain the jihadist insurgency. Burkina Faso's military government has suspended a French television news channel for a report . 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). 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. ", 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. 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. Stay informed on the latest news on health and COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. [13] In the following month, Traor questioned the planned restoration of democracy for 2024, stating that elections could not be held unless the insurgents were pushed back and the security situation had been improved. [2][8] He graduated from the university with honors. There have been recent coups in the region: Mali, Guinea and Chad. Burkina Faso, a poor, landlocked former French colony in the heart of West Africa, is dying. 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. People were expecting a real change, he added. As a heavily armed convoy drove through a cheering crowd in Burkina . 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. 27 March - Burkina Faso suspends France 24 broadcasts after the news agency aired an interview with the leader of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb earlier this month. Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights, only controlled 60 percent of the country. [6] At age 34, Traor is the world's youngest currently serving state leader. There are many partners. The current head of state of Burkina Faso is Interim President Capt. Last week, Damiba had travelled to New York where he addressed the UN general assembly. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Amid growing uncertainties, the UN voiced concern and appealed for calm. This view was expressed despite the fact that Lt-Col Damiba has neither addressed the nation nor granted media interviews since seizing power, suggesting he is, at the least, publicity-shy - not ideal for a president. Togo had taken in Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba for . Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. All that matters when the level of security returns is the fight, its development.. Watch the moment the military announced its takeover on live TV. The new leader also downplayed accusations from coup supporters that Damiba was being protected by the French and with their help was planning to launch a counter-coup. Contagious coups: what is fuelling military takeovers across west Africa? We want the departure of Damiba and France, said Alassane Thiemtore who was among the protesters. The conservative court flexed its muscles. Not all U.S. presidents are missed once they leave the White House. Earlier on Friday, Lt Col Damiba urged the population to remain calm after heavy gunfire was heard in parts of the capital. Video, a 2015 coup that proved to be so unpopular that the military relinquished power a mere seven days later, Lt-Col Damiba took part in American military courses, the decision to use "already scarce public funds" to pay foreign mercenaries, Why Burkina Faso's coup has prompted celebrations, Why France faces so much anger in West Africa, West Africa faces up to policing its terror triangle, Florida murder suspect arrested after 40 years, Designer can refuse gay couples, top US court says, Australia begins world-first MDMA therapy for PTSD, Sex life of rare 'leopard-print' frog revealed, Rescuers amputate leg of woman stuck in travelator. "Faced with the deteriorating situation, we tried several times to get Damiba to refocus the transition on the security question," said the statement signed by Traore. Who was Nahel M, shot by police in Nanterre? Hundreds of people in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, have been celebrating after the military seized power on Monday. 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. We are demonstrating to support this coup, confirmed or not, said Francois Beogo, a political activist from the Movement for the Refounding of Burkina Faso. The soldiers introduced . Before dawn, shots and explosions were heard in the capital, Ouagadougou, some of them coming from near the presidential palace and main military barracks. In an interview with French state broadcaster RFI, Traore has said a national conference will appoint a new interim leader by the end of the year one who could be civilian or military and honour an agreement with West Africas regional bloc and oversee a return to civilian rule by 2024. He turned on the president despite the fact that he had been promoted about seven weeks earlier to lead anti-terrorism operations in the volatile northern zone, which includes Ouagadougou, in what was seen as a military shake-up by Mr Kabor to tighten his grip on power and to placate troops angered by the killing of more than 50 security force members in November. OUAGADOUGOU, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Burkina Faso's military officials, political parties and civil society leaders on Friday officially designated army captain Ibrahim Traore as the country's. None of the juntas have committed to a date for new elections, though Damiba said last week that the transition in Burkina Faso would last for almost two more years. in which he analysed anti-terrorism strategies in the Sahel region and their limits. However, the transition government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas. 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. - a book on the biggest crisis facing Burkina Faso, the Islamist. Burkina Faso's new self-proclaimed leader, Capt. The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. We invite you to continue with your activities and refrain from all acts of violence and vandalism notably that against the French embassy and the French military base, the officer loyal to Traore said, urging people to remain calm. Burkina Faso's military leader ousted in second coup this year | Burkina Faso | The Guardian Army officer Captain Ibrahim Traore has overthrown Paul-Henri Damiba, eight months after he. 2140864D UNITED NATIONS Private Company The leader of the junta that overthrew Burkina Faso's democratically elected government in a coup last month has been made president. 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. [6][5] From March 2022, he served as the head of an artillery regiment in Kaya. [8] When the plotters launched their coup on 30 September, Traor still held the rank of Captain. Blockades of towns by armed groups have made it difficult for aid to reach those in need, the UN has said. This is a list of heads of state of Burkina Faso since the Republic of Upper Volta gained independence from France in 1960 to the present day. The country has experienced eight successful coups since independence in 1960. 0. News | Military Who is Paul-Henri Damiba, leader of the Burkina Faso coup? Prior to being catapulted to the highest office in the land after overthrowing Dmaiba, Traore was a relatively low-ranking officer running an artillery regiment in a small northern town. The military reportedly blocked access to some government buildings on Friday. Damiba cited the failure of the Kabore administration to unite the country and control the deteriorating security situation as reasons for ousting the civilian government. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) condemned the move, stating it "reaffirms its unreserved opposition to any taking or maintaining of the power by unconstitutional means". 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. The Islamist insurgency broke out in Burkina Faso in 2015, leaving thousands dead and forcing an estimated two million people from their homes. The conservative court flexed its muscles. Ibrahim Traore wave Russian flags as they cheer in the streets of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on Sunday. President Joe Biden pledged a path forward albeit a longer path for student loan debt cancellation after the Supreme Court struck down his original plan. [1/2]Burkina Faso's new military leader Ibrahim Traore is escorted by soldiers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso October 2, 2022. But many citizens do not feel any safer and there have been protests in different parts of the country this week. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy. On Friday afternoon, some protesters took to the capital's streets calling for the removal of Lt Col Damiba. In June, he published a book titled West African Armies and Terrorism: Uncertain Responses? Another statement said Traore would continue to act as president until a transitional civilian or military president is designated in the coming weeks. Despite Damibas promises to improve the security situation in the country, the crisis worsened under his government. We want cooperation with Russia. Dressed in military fatigues and a red beret, Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was presented as the president of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR), which seized power on Monday. Lt Col Damiba's whereabouts are not known. 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. DAKAR, Senegal A slew of extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and instances of torture by Burkina Faso's military has terrorized communities in the country's northeast this year . 02:02. Writing by Sofia Christensen; editing by Barbara Lewis, 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, Exclusive: Gambia families sue Indian drugmaker after cough syrup deaths, 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. 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. He has now been ousted by the same armed forces that helped him gain power. Anti-French demonstrators also gathered and stoned the French Cultural Centre in the Southern town of Bobo-Dioulasso. President of Burkina Faso Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba visits 14th Inter-Arms Regiment soldiers in Djibo, Burkina Faso September 29, 2022 in this still image obtained from a video. "We have more than what it takes to win this war," the junta chief said when he was sworn in as president in February. The Burkinab government accused France 24 of being a "mouthpiece for terrorists " and "hate speech", which the agency denies as "unfounded". [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 . What comes next? [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. 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. [6] The dissatisfaction about the situation was highest among younger officers who fought against the rebels at the frontlines. "This isn't an easy thing for a soldier to say but he is someone who says what he thinks," the source said. . Burkina Faso's new military leader Ibrahim Traore is escorted by soldiers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, October 2, 2022. 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. After sunrise, the normally bustling city was largely deserted, with soldiers on the streets blocking some roads and guarding key strategic points. 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. Army officer Captain Ibrahim Traore has overthrown Paul-Henri Damiba, eight months after he took power. But. The new junta's proposed transition charter is aligned with the previous one, approved during a similar meeting after Damiba seized power in January. Ibrahim Traor (born 1988) is a Burkinab military officer who has been the interim leader of Burkina Faso since the 30 September 2022 coup d'tat which ousted interim president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals, Reporting by Thiam Ndiaga Damiba could not be reached for comment. OUAGADOUGOU, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Armed soldiers in fatigues and masks appeared on television in Burkina Faso on Friday night to confirm the ouster of President Paul-Henri Damiba, the second. In the face of the continuing deterioration of the security situation, we have repeatedly tried to refocus the transition on security issues, said the statement read aloud on Friday evening by the soldiers. For him, results on the grounds are what matters.". A close family member told Reuters he left the country on Sunday. Atleast 150 civilians may have died in attack on Burkina Faso village, says UN, Cotton, gold or jihad: Burkina Fasos youth caught between violence and hardship, Barbaric attacks leave 44 civilians dead in Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso expels reporters from two French newspapers, Burkina Faso: 66 women and children freed after kidnap by armed assailants, UNrights chief urges rapid inquiry after 28 die in Burkina Faso town, Protesters attack French embassy in Burkina Faso over allegedly harbouring ousted president, Burkina Faso: dozens more bodies found after militant attack, Burkina Fasos ex-president guilty of complicity in murder of predecessor. 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. Damiba resigned from his post on Sunday, fleeing to neighbouring Togo. [1/2]Burkina Faso's new military leader Ibrahim Traore is escorted by soldiers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. 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 . [1] He promises to hold democratic elections in July 2024. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. He seems to have good political antennae, having refused to throw his weight behind a 2015 coup that proved to be so unpopular that the military relinquished power a mere seven days later, opening the way for Mr Kabor to be elected to office about two months later. [11] Traor denied this, claiming that "our Wagner are the VDP", referencing the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland. [2], Promoted to lieutenant in 2014, Traor joined MINUSMA, a United Nations peacekeeping force involved in the Mali War. "He sees the issue of jihadist insurgencies as a complex problem, which cannot be solved through military means alone. [4] Term limits As of 2021, there is a two-term limit for the president in the Constitution of Burkina Faso. All rights reserved. How can we hope to unite people and the army if the latter is characterised by such serious divisions? Zougmore said. Burkina Faso: The basics. June 20, 2023. It is time for these reactionary and political military factions to stop leading Burkina Faso adrift.. It is the second takeover in eight months for the west African state. [7], Ibrahim Traor was born in Bondokuy, Mouhoun Province, in 1988. 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. The violence has killed thousands, displaced nearly two million and fuelled political instability. We want to inform the population that the situation is under control and order is being restored, an army officer said in a statement broadcast on national television. Authorities in Burkina Faso are seeking security assistance to fend off a powerful Islamist militant insurgency, but U.S. officials are restricted in what they can provide as a result of the coup . Read about our approach to external linking. [12] In April, he declared a "general mobilisation" of the population to support the military, as rebel forces continued to increase the rate of their attacks. Vincent Bado/Reuters. Ibrahim Traore cited Lt Col Damiba's inability to deal with an Islamist insurgency as the reason. Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. The term limit has not been met by any president yet. 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. Why Now? That attack was a low point for Damibas government and likely played a role in inspiring what weve seen so far today, said Eric Humphery-Smith, senior Africa analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft. The comments followed a meeting with an ECOWAS delegation sent to meet the junta that took power last week in the second coup to hit the West African country this year. [2] He subsequently returned to Burkina Faso where he assisted in operations against the escalating jihadist insurgency. The former vice president has become the Democratic front-runner with primary victories across the country.
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