Another Coup In The Making? Burkina Faso President Captured, Detained By Soldiers In Military Camp

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Burkina Faso President Captured, Detained By Soldiers In Military Camp

By Uganda Online Media

President Yoweri Museveni has appointed Maj Tom Magambo who has been in the Internal Security Organisations(ISO) as the new police Criminal Investigations Director.

“President Museveni has promoted Private Tom Magambo to the rank of Major and appointed him Director Criminal Investigations of the Uganda Police Force,” the acting UPDF spokesperson, Lt Col Ronald Kakurungu said in a statement.

 Burkina Faso President Roch Kabore has been detained at a military camp by mutinying soldiers, four security sources, and a West African diplomat said on Monday, following heavy gunfire around his residence on Sunday night in the capital Ouagadougou.

Some troops in the West African nation have demanded the sacking of military chiefs and more resources to fight Islamist militants.

The government, however, denied suggestions of a military coup or that the president was under arrest.

President Kaboré was detained at a military camp by mutinying soldiers, foreign media reports say.

Video from the capital appears to show armored vehicles reportedly used by the presidency peppered with bullet holes and abandoned in the street.

However, according to the latest reports, the city is quiet again with Soldiers surrounding the state television headquarters.

Locals congregate around a black SUV vehicle with holes in the metal on the side
one of the cars apparently used by the presidency found in the morning with bullet holes

Hundreds of people had come out in support of the soldiers despite a government-imposed curfew. Some of them set fire to the ruling party’s headquarters.

The unrest comes a week after 11 soldiers were arrested for allegedly plotting a coup.

But discontent has been growing in Burkina Faso over the government’s failure to successfully eliminate an Islamist insurgency in the country since 2015.

That escalated to new highs in November, when 53 people were killed by suspected jihadists. And on Saturday, a banned rally to protest against the government’s perceived failure led to dozens of arrests.

Similar troubles in neighboring Mali led to a military coup in May 2021 – one that was broadly welcomed by the public.

In Burkina Faso, mutinying soldiers have made several demands, including the removal of the army’s chief of staff and the head of the intelligence service; more troops to be deployed to the front line; and better conditions for the wounded and soldiers’ families.

On Sunday, Defence Minister Gen Barthelemy Simpore downplayed previous rumors of the president’s capture and the nature of the unrest at large.

State television, meanwhile, had characterized the sound of gunfire at military barracks as the actions of a small few disgruntled soldiers rather than a widespread fight or coup attempt.

On Monday amid disruptions to internet service, much confusion remained in the capital, with no clear statement published by either side.

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