On Friday night, soldiers from Burkina Faso announced the overthrow of the previous coup’s leader, Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, on the nation’s national television.
In response to the steadily deteriorating security situation, the spokesman said: “People of Burkina Faso, fellow citizens, since 24 January 2022, we the officers and junior officers of the national armed forces were motivated to take action with the desire to protect the security and integrity of our territory.
The democratically elected president was overthrown by Damiba and his associates in January, but he has been unable to stop jihadist violence, and dissatisfaction with his rule has escalated recently.
The new head of state was introduced by the spokesman as Capt. Ibrahim Traore.
It was unknown where Lt. Col. Damiba was on Friday night.
Along with the suspension of the constitution, the dismissal of the government and the transitional legislative assembly, the coup organizers also proclaimed the closing of the nation’s land and air borders as of midnight.
Since gaining its independence in 1960, Burkina Faso has witnessed eight successful coups.
