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Politics

Captain Ibrahim Traore military coup burkina faso, President Paul-Henri Damiba resigns

By Roni Sianturi, 03 October, 2022
 

The president of Burkina Faso resigns, but only if the leader of the coup guarantees his safety.

Religious and traditional leaders in Burkina Faso said on Sunday that self-proclaimed military leader Captain Ibrahim Traore has accepted President Paul-Henri Damiba's offer of a conditional resignation. This is to avoid more violence after Friday's coup.

According to the deal, which was announced at a press conference, Traore had agreed to seven conditions, such as ensuring Damiba's safety and the safety of soldiers who supported him, and keeping promises made to the West Africa regional bloc to return to constitutional rule by July 2024.

Damiba couldn't be reached to get his opinion. Reuters heard from a close relative that he left the country on Sunday.

Traore said earlier that order was getting back to normal after days of fighting and violent protests against the French embassy as his group tried to overthrow the government.

There are now splits in the army, and many soldiers seem to be looking for help from Russia as the former colonial power France loses power.

Ibrahim Traore, who says he is the new leader of Burkina Faso, is met at the national television in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on October 2, 2022, by supporters holding Russian flags. He is standing in an armored vehicle.
Ibrahim Traore, who says he is the new leader of Burkina Faso, is met at the national television in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on October 2, 2022, by supporters holding Russian flags. He is standing in an armored vehicle.
In Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on October 2, 2022, people showing support for Burkina Faso's self-declared new leader Ibrahim Traore stand on soldiers' armored vehicles.
In Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on October 2, 2022, people showing support for Burkina Faso's self-declared new leader Ibrahim Traore stand on soldiers' armored vehicles.
In Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on October 2, 2022, soldiers from the new junta stand guard in an armored vehicle.
In Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on October 2, 2022, soldiers from the new junta stand guard in an armored vehicle.
Burkina Faso's self-proclaimed new leader Ibrahim Traore rides in an armored vehicle to the national television station in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on October 2, 2022. He is accompanied by soldiers.
Burkina Faso's self-proclaimed new leader Ibrahim Traore rides in an armored vehicle to the national television station in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on October 2, 2022. He is accompanied by soldiers.
Ibrahim Traore, who says he is the new leader of Burkina Faso, arrives at the national television station in an armored vehicle on October 2, 2022, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Ibrahim Traore, who says he is the new leader of Burkina Faso, arrives at the national television station in an armored vehicle on October 2, 2022, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Supporters of Burkina Faso's self-proclaimed new leader Ibrahim Traore show their support in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on October 2, 2022, by waving Burkina Faso and Russian flags.
Supporters of Burkina Faso's self-proclaimed new leader Ibrahim Traore show their support in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on October 2, 2022, by waving Burkina Faso and Russian flags.
In this still from a video, Captain Ibrahim Traore watches as he says on TV that he has removed Burkina Faso's military leader Paul-Henri Damiba and dissolved the government and constitution. This happened on September 30, 2022, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
In this still from a video, Captain Ibrahim Traore watches as he says on TV that he has removed Burkina Faso's military leader Paul-Henri Damiba and dissolved the government and constitution. This happened on September 30, 2022, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

At least three different videos posted online on Saturday and Sunday showed soldiers on top of armored personnel carriers waving Russian flags as people in the crowd chanted "Russia! Russia!" The videos have not been checked by Reuters.

Traore's team asked people to stop attacking the French embassy, which had been targeted by protesters after an officer said that France had protected Damiba at a French military base in the West African country and that he was planning a counterattack.

After Damiba was kicked out of office on Friday, the French foreign ministry said that the base did not host him. Damiba also said that he wasn't at the base and that the reports were made to make people think that he was.

In a statement shown on national TV, an army officer said, "We want to let the people know that the situation is under control and that order is being restored."

In another statement, it was said that Traore would stay in his role as president until the next few weeks, when a civilian or military president would be chosen to help with the transition.

On Saturday, there was gunfire in and around Ouagadougou from opposing army groups. On Sunday, the city was mostly quiet.

"We want you to keep doing what you're doing and stop all violence and vandalism, especially against the French embassy and the French military base," an officer who supported Traore said, asking people to stay calm.

RUSSIAN FLAGS

Damiba himself led a coup against a civilian government earlier this year that had lost support because of rising violence by Islamist extremists. The soldiers in the former French protectorate were angry that Damiba hadn't been able to stop the militant groups.

There are also disagreements in the army about whether or not to ask for help from other countries to fight the militants.

The soldiers who got rid of Damiba said that the former leader, whom they had helped take power in January, had broken a promise to look for new allies.

They didn't say who the partners were, but observers and supporters said the soldiers want a closer relationship with Russia, just like the soldiers who took power in Mali in August 2020, which is close by. go to site

On Saturday and early Sunday, hundreds of people protested in front of the French embassy. Some of them waved Russian flags and supported Traore's takeover. Others threw stones and burned tires and other trash.

"We'd like to work with Russia. We want Damiba and France to go away, "Alassane Thiemtore, who was also there to protest, said this.

In the southern town of Bobo-Dioulasso, people who didn't like the French gathered and threw stones at the French Cultural Center. On Sunday morning, there was also damage done to French business interests.

After violence started in neighboring Mali in 2012 and spread to other countries south of the Sahara Desert, Burkina Faso has become the center of attacks by groups with ties to al Qaeda and Islamic State.

Even though Damiba promised to deal with insecurity after his January coup, thousands have been killed in raids on rural communities and millions have been forced to leave.

This week, an attack in northern Burkina Faso killed at least 11 soldiers. After the attack, dozens of civilians have not been seen since.

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