Protesters took to the streets in several cities in Burkina Faso on Saturday to express support for the coup that took place in the West African country the day before. That report international news agencies. The situation in the country and especially in the capital Ouagadougou is described as very unstable. Shots were said to have been fired in several places and combat helicopters would circle around the presidential palace.
The protests on Saturday included the attack on the French embassy after the coup plotters accused France earlier in the day of hosting the Friday-deposed military leader Paul-Henri Damiba. Hundreds of people gathered in front of the embassy and set fire to it. Damiba, whose whereabouts are currently unknown, is said to have holed up on a French army base and preparing a counter-offensive. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs denies any involvement.
On Saturday, Damiba, who had come to power in a coup in January, issued a statement calling on the coup plotters, led by 34-year-old Captain Ibrahim Traore, to “come to their senses”. According to Traore, Damiba should resign. He is accused by the new rulers of being too slack about Islamic violence in the country. Under Damiba’s rule, the violence perpetrated by these militants would only have increased. The UN, the African Union and the West African countries united in ECOWAS have condemned the coup.
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