Military officers on Friday said they had dismissed the leader of Burkina Faso's junta, in the country's second coup this year.

They declared the removal of Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who himself came to power in a coup in January, in a statement read out on national television.&nbsp;

The rebelling military also announced the closure of borders from midnight, as well as the suspension of the constitution and the dissolution of the government.

They proclaimed Captain Ibrahim Traore as the country's new strongman.

Around 15 soldiers in fatigues appeared on the Radio-Television broadcaster shortly before 8:00 pm local time.

"We have decided to take our responsibilities, driven by a single ideal -- the restoration of security and integrity of our territory,"&nbsp;they said.

A curfew from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am was also announced.

The United States said it was “deeply concerned” by events in Ouagadougou and was encouraging US citizens to limit movements.

“We call for a return to calm and restraint by all actors,” a US state department spokesperson said.

Earlier on Friday, the government said an "internal crisis" within the army. There were troop deployments in key areas of the capital, and negotiations had been underway after shots rang out before dawn.

Gunfire was heard around the presidential palace and headquarters of the military junta, witnesses told AFP.

The transitional government, set up by Damiba and his team, had said there had been an "internal crisis in the army", after AFP journalists saw troops block several main roads in Ouagadougou.

Government spokesman Lionel Bilgo had said the "crisis" was based on army pay claims, and that Damiba was taking part in discussions.

During the morning, shots rang out in the Ouaga 2000 neighbourhood which houses both the presidential and military junta headquarters, an AFP video journalist said.

A resident who lives close to the presidential palace said: "I heard heavy detonations around 4:30 am and now the roads around my home have been sealed off by military vehicles."

State television was cut for several hours on Friday, prior to the military announcement, broadcasting just a blank screen with the message "no video signal".

Troops were seen at the city's main crossroads, especially in Ouaga 2000,&nbsp;and&nbsp;also outside the state television centre.&nbsp;

In the afternoon, an AFP journalist saw a group of several hundred people gather in a city square making a range of demands, including the ouster of Damiba and the end of the French military presence.

The French foreign ministry told its citizens in the city, believed to number&nbsp;between 4,000 and 5,000, to stay home.

In Brussels, the EU voiced "concern" at the events unfolding in the Burkina capital.

"A military movement was observed from 04:30 this morning. The situation still remains particularly confused," said spokeswoman Nabila Massrali, before the announcement of the latest coup.

By the evening, the soldiers were still in place at key points of the city, and streets were mostly deserted.&nbsp;

Violence has long wracked the landlocked west African country where Damiba took power in a January coup, ousting elected leader Roch Marc Christian Kabore.

Damiba had pledged to restore civilian rule within two years and to defeat the armed factions.

As in bordering countries, insurgents affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group have stoked unrest.

Thousands have died and about two million have been displaced by the fighting since 2015 when the insurgency spread into Burkina Faso, which has since become the epicentre of the violence across the Sahel.

Damiba earlier this month sacked his defence minister and assumed the role himself.

More than 40 per cent of Burkina Faso, a former French colony, is outside government control.

Attacks have increased since mid-March, despite the junta's vow to make security its top priority.

September has been particularly bloody.&nbsp;On Monday, suspected jihadists attacked a convoy carrying supplies to the town of Djibo in the north of the country. The government said 11 soldiers died and around 50 civilians were missing.

On September 5, an improvised explosive device struck a supply convoy in the north killing 35 civilians and wounding 37.

The following day, at least nine people, including seven civilians and two soldiers, were killed in two separate attacks by suspected jihadists.

In June, 86 civilians died in a massacre at Seytenga, near the border with Niger.

Much of the impoverished Sahel region is battling the insurgency.

Starting in northern Mali in 2012, the insurgents attacked neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger in 2015.

The violence has in recent years begun to spill over into coastal states Ivory Coast, Togo and Benin.

Military officers on Friday said they had dismissed the leader of Burkina Faso's junta, in the country's second coup this year. They declared the removal of Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who himself came to power in a coup in January, in a statement read out on national television.

Military officers on Friday said they had dismissed the leader of Burkina Faso's junta, in the country's second coup this year. They declared the removal of Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who himself came to power in a coup in January, in a statement read out on national television. The rebelling military also announced the closure of borders from midnight, as well as the suspension of the constitution and the dissolution of the government. They proclaimed Captain Ibrahim Traore as the country's new strongman. Around 15 soldiers in fatigues appeared on the Radio-Television broadcaster shortly before 8:00 pm local time. "We have decided to take our responsibilities, driven by a single ideal -- the restoration of security and integrity of our territory," they said. A curfew from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am was also announced. The United States said it was “deeply concerned” by events in Ouagadougou and was encouraging US citizens to limit movements. “We call for a return to calm and restraint by all actors,” a US state department spokesperson said. Earlier on Friday, the government said an "internal crisis" within the army. There were troop deployments in key areas of the capital, and negotiations had been underway after shots rang out before dawn. Gunfire was heard around the presidential palace and headquarters of the military junta, witnesses told AFP. The transitional government, set up by Damiba and his team, had said there had been an "internal crisis in the army", after AFP journalists saw troops block several main roads in Ouagadougou. Government spokesman Lionel Bilgo had said the "crisis" was based on army pay claims, and that Damiba was taking part in discussions. During the morning, shots rang out in the Ouaga 2000 neighbourhood which houses both the presidential and military junta headquarters, an AFP video journalist said. A resident who lives close to the presidential palace said: "I heard heavy detonations around 4:30 am and now the roads around my home have been sealed off by military vehicles." State television was cut for several hours on Friday, prior to the military announcement, broadcasting just a blank screen with the message "no video signal". Troops were seen at the city's main crossroads, especially in Ouaga 2000, and also outside the state television centre. In the afternoon, an AFP journalist saw a group of several hundred people gather in a city square making a range of demands, including the ouster of Damiba and the end of the French military presence. The French foreign ministry told its citizens in the city, believed to number between 4,000 and 5,000, to stay home. In Brussels, the EU voiced "concern" at the events unfolding in the Burkina capital. "A military movement was observed from 04:30 this morning. The situation still remains particularly confused," said spokeswoman Nabila Massrali, before the announcement of the latest coup. By the evening, the soldiers were still in place at key points of the city, and streets were mostly deserted. Violence has long wracked the landlocked west African country where Damiba took power in a January coup, ousting elected leader Roch Marc Christian Kabore. Damiba had pledged to restore civilian rule within two years and to defeat the armed factions. As in bordering countries, insurgents affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group have stoked unrest. Thousands have died and about two million have been displaced by the fighting since 2015 when the insurgency spread into Burkina Faso, which has since become the epicentre of the violence across the Sahel. Damiba earlier this month sacked his defence minister and assumed the role himself. More than 40 per cent of Burkina Faso, a former French colony, is outside government control. Attacks have increased since mid-March, despite the junta's vow to make security its top priority. September has been particularly bloody. On Monday, suspected jihadists attacked a convoy carrying supplies to the town of Djibo in the north of the country. The government said 11 soldiers died and around 50 civilians were missing. On September 5, an improvised explosive device struck a supply convoy in the north killing 35 civilians and wounding 37. The following day, at least nine people, including seven civilians and two soldiers, were killed in two separate attacks by suspected jihadists. In June, 86 civilians died in a massacre at Seytenga, near the border with Niger. Much of the impoverished Sahel region is battling the insurgency. Starting in northern Mali in 2012, the insurgents attacked neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger in 2015. The violence has in recent years begun to spill over into coastal states Ivory Coast, Togo and Benin.

Second coup: Burkina Faso soldiers dismiss junta leader, overthrow government

Burkina Faso's new military leader Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba said on Thursday that the West African country's return to constitutional order when conditions are right.

Damiba spoke for the first time on national television since leading a mutiny that ousted President Roch Marc Kabore on Monday.

"When the conditions are right, according to the deadline that our people will define in all sovereignty, I commit to a return to a normal constitutional order," Damiba said.

Wearing a red beret, army fatigues and flanked by national flags, Damiba said he would convene various sections of Burkina Faso's society to agree on a roadmap to plan and carry out needed reforms.

The junta said on Monday after seizing power that it would propose a calendar for a return to constitutional order "within a reasonable time frame" but has not elaborated on its plans.

The officers, who call themselves the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR), launched a mutiny on Sunday night, and removed Kabore on Monday, blaming him for failing to contain worsening violence by Islamist militants.

Damiba promised farmers and herders and people across the West African Sahel nation affected by violence from militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State, and said he would take back control of those zones. He said security would be priority.

Damiba's speech come before a planned emergency summit of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Friday to discuss how to respond to the coup.

ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Burkina Faso's neighbour Mali and Guinea following military takeovers in August 2020 and September 2021, respectively.

This latest coup in West and Central Africa comes amid an increasingly bloody Islamist insurgency that has killed thousands and displaced millions across the Sahel region, eroding faith in democratic leaders to combat the problem.

The juntas in Mali and Guinea, as well as in the Central African nation of Chad, where the military took power in April 2021, have all set up transitional governments with a mixture of military officers and civilians.

The juntas in Mali and Chad agreed to 18-month transitions to democratic elections, while Guinea's has not yet laid out a timeline.

Malian authorities, however, have gone back on their original commitment and have proposed delaying elections, originally scheduled for next month, by up to four years.

Burkina Faso's new military leader Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba said on Thursday that the West African country's return to constitutional order when conditions are right.

Burkina Faso's new military leader Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba said on Thursday that the West African country's return to constitutional order when conditions are right. Damiba spoke for the first time on national television since leading a mutiny that ousted President Roch Marc Kabore on Monday. "When the conditions are right, according to the deadline that our people will define in all sovereignty, I commit to a return to a normal constitutional order," Damiba said. Wearing a red beret, army fatigues and flanked by national flags, Damiba said he would convene various sections of Burkina Faso's society to agree on a roadmap to plan and carry out needed reforms. The junta said on Monday after seizing power that it would propose a calendar for a return to constitutional order "within a reasonable time frame" but has not elaborated on its plans. The officers, who call themselves the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR), launched a mutiny on Sunday night, and removed Kabore on Monday, blaming him for failing to contain worsening violence by Islamist militants. Damiba promised farmers and herders and people across the West African Sahel nation affected by violence from militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State, and said he would take back control of those zones. He said security would be priority. Damiba's speech come before a planned emergency summit of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Friday to discuss how to respond to the coup. ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Burkina Faso's neighbour Mali and Guinea following military takeovers in August 2020 and September 2021, respectively. This latest coup in West and Central Africa comes amid an increasingly bloody Islamist insurgency that has killed thousands and displaced millions across the Sahel region, eroding faith in democratic leaders to combat the problem. The juntas in Mali and Guinea, as well as in the Central African nation of Chad, where the military took power in April 2021, have all set up transitional governments with a mixture of military officers and civilians. The juntas in Mali and Chad agreed to 18-month transitions to democratic elections, while Guinea's has not yet laid out a timeline. Malian authorities, however, have gone back on their original commitment and have proposed delaying elections, originally scheduled for next month, by up to four years.

Burkina Faso will return to constitutional order when conditions are right, military leader says

burkina-faso-military

Burkina Faso Military, News on Burkina Faso Military, stories on Burkina Faso Military, articles on Burkina Faso Military, Burkina Faso Military stories at Wion, Burkina Faso Military news, Burkina Faso Military latest news

burkina faso-military

Second coup: Burkina Faso soldiers dismiss junta leader, overthrow government

Burkina Faso will return to constitutional order when conditions are right, military leader says