Fears of a new military coup

Shooting and the deployment of the army in the capital of Burkina Faso

Soldiers deployed in the capital, Ouagadougou.

AFP

Soldiers took to the streets of Burkina Faso's capital yesterday, blocking the entrances to administrative buildings after gunfire and an explosion were heard near the presidential palace, raising fears of a second coup in the country in eight months.

After hours of silence, the government of Burkina Faso announced that the situation in the country, after hearing shooting in the capital and the deployment of troops on the main roads, was linked to an "internal crisis within the army," stressing that "talks are taking place in order to reach a settlement."

"It is an internal crisis in the army and discussions are continuing in order to reach a smooth outcome," government spokesman Lionel Bilgo told AFP.

Bilgo added that it is a "military crisis for certain units for demands related to certain rewards and salaries," stressing that "discussions are ongoing."

"The President, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Henry Sandaugo Damiba, and his men are leading the discussions," he added.

It is not clear if the shooting was part of an attempted coup, but security sources said there was frustration in the armed forces with the lack of progress in fighting the militants.

At first, the sound of gunfire was heard at dawn yesterday, in the main camp of the army in the capital, Ouagadougou, and in some residential areas, according to Reuters correspondents.

AFP journalists said that soldiers were blocking a large number of road axes.

These soldiers were stationed at the main crossroads of the city, especially in the Wagha 2000 neighborhood, where the presidential headquarters and the barracks of the ruling military council are located, as well as in front of the headquarters of the national television, which cut off its broadcasts for hours, but then resumed broadcasting documentaries without addressing the situation.

Military vehicles were scattered in the empty streets.

Schools, banks and businesses also remained closed.

Meanwhile, the US embassy urged American nationals to limit their movement.

Burkina Faso leads a military group led by Colonel Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, which came to power following a coup on January 24.

It was this coup that ousted President-elect Roch Marc Christian Kabore, which began with uprisings in a number of the country's barracks.

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