OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) – A group of soldiers announced on Burkina Faso national television on Friday the dismissal of junta leader Paul-Henri Damiba, who has been in power since a January coup.
Captain Ibrahim Traor read a statement announcing the dissolution of the government and the Constitution, as well as the closure of the country’s borders until further notice.
He said Lt. Col. Damiba was removed from his post due to his inability to deal with an Islamist insurgency. All political and civil activities are suspended, he added.
The junta led by Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who became transitional president, seized power in Burkina Faso in a coup d’etat on January 24, after the overthrow of President Roch-Marc Christian Kabor.
Intense gunfire rang out Friday morning in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital, from the city’s main military camp and some residential areas, Reuters journalists reported.
An explosion also took place near the presidential palace.
Several armed soldiers were visible along the main avenue leading to the presidency, some public buildings and the national television headquarters.
(Report Thiam Ndiaga and Anne Mimault, written by Bate Felix, French version Bertrand Boucey and Kate Entringer, told by Tangi Salan)