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A military coup threw Burkina Faso back into political turmoil this week, less than a year after a popular uprising ousted a long-serving autocrat and brought hopes of democratic change in the West African nation.
The country was preparing for its first democratic elections, scheduled for Oct. 11, sincepopular protests ended the 27-year rule of former President Blaise Compaore last October.
But on Wednesday, soldiers burst into a cabinet meeting and took the country’s interim President Michel Kafando, Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac Zida and two government ministers captive.
The coup leaders, calling themselves the National Council for Democracy, appeared on Burkinabe television on Thursday to announce that they had taken power. Thousands poured onto the streets around the country to protest the coup.
“I am worried and against the putschists. We are demonstrating because we want the [democratic] transition process to unfold,” protester Aissata Kabor told Reuters.
At least six people were killed and 60 were wounded when security forces opened fire on the protesters.
The junta said Friday they had freed Kafando and his ministers, but were keeping Zida under house arrest. Protests against the power grab continued in cities around the country, and union leaders announced a nationwide strike.
