Burkina Faso: Soldiers, Heavy Gunfire On Streets Of Nation's Capital

Soldiers are on the streets and heavy gunfire has been heard near the main military camp and residential areas of Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou.

A large blast also rang out on Friday near the presidential palace where soldiers took up positions.

Many soldiers were also seen along the main avenue leading to the presidential palace, administrative buildings and the national television station.

Several main roads in the region of Ouagadougou were blocked by troops. No public announcement about the motivation behind the troop movements in Ouagadougou has been given.

Friday’s developments come two days after Burkina Faso’s government said at least 11 soldiers were killed and 50 civilians were missing after fighters attacked a 150-vehicle military-escorted convoy taking supplies to a northern town.

In a statement on Tuesday, the government said the assault took place in the commune of Gaskinde in Soum province, where armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS) have escalated attacks and seized territory since 2015.

Violence has raged in Burkina Faso since Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba seized power in a coup in January, toppling the West African country’s elected leader.