The leader of the putschists called, Sunday, October 2, to put an end to the “acts of violence and vandalism” against France in Burkina Faso. “Serious breaches of the security of our diplomatic rights of way took place last night in Ouagadougou”, announced at the same time the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sunday morning, dozens of demonstrators gathered in front of the French Embassy were repelled with tear gas. France is accused of interference after Friday’s military coup that overthrew Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba. The putschists claimed to remove him from office and instead inducted Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
>> A new coup d’etat shakes Burkina Faso, France also targeted. Follow our live
The putschist soldiers declared the closure of land and air borders, the suspension of the Constitution, the government and the Transitional Legislative Assembly. But the army does not support this coup. In a press release published on Saturday, she describes a “internal crisis” and “consultations” ongoing. She specifies that this coup d’etat “does not represent the position of the institution”. After initially calling on the putschists to “return to reason”, Paul-Henri Damiba ended up agreeing to resign on Sunday, “following the mediation actions” led by religious and community leaders.
1What are the motivations of the putschists?
“We have decided to take our responsibilities, driven by a single ideal, the restoration of the security and integrity of our territory” declared the putschist soldiers on Friday, September 30 after taking power by force. The inability of successive governments to stem jihadist violence and ensure security on the territory has weakened the regime in place. Since 2015, armed groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group have claimed thousands of lives in Burkina Faso.
The one who has just been placed at the head of a new junta, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, is thus the former head of the corps of the Kaya artillery regiment, in the north of the country, particularly affected by the jihadist attacks. Two million people have been displaced and some towns are now under jihadist blockade. In recent months, attacks have multiplied as Lieutenant-Colonel Damiba promised to make the fight against terrorism his priority when he took power (also by force) last January.
2Why is France singled out?
France is accused of interference after this coup. The putschists very quickly accused Paul-Henri Damiba, who initially refused to resign, of planning a counter-offensive from a French base near Ouagadougou. The French Embassy and the French Institute in the capital and in Bobo Dioulasso were targeted by protesters. “It is all the more regrettable that it was one of the main cultural centers of the city, which housed the Georges Méliès library, which was very popular with Burkinabés”, lamented the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the institute in Ouagadougou. On Sunday, the new self-proclaimed leader of the military junta Ibrahim Traoré called on protesters to stop the violence.
“I formally deny having taken refuge in the French base of Kamboincé. It is only an intoxication to manipulate public opinion”, replied Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba on social networks on Saturday evening, without giving any indication of where he was. The French Foreign Ministry also denied. “Paul Henri Damiba was never welcomed on this basis and was never welcomed in our embassy”said spokesperson Anne-Claire Legendre on France 24 on Saturday.
#BurkinaFaso | France formally denies any involvement in the events underway since yesterday in Burkina Faso. The camp where the French forces are located has never hosted Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, nor has our embassy. #Infox pic.twitter.com/pkHSbWyUlR
— France Diplomacy (@francediplo) October 1, 2022
These attacks “are the work of hostile demonstrators, manipulated by a disinformation campaign against us”continued Anne-Claire Legendre, in “calling on stakeholders to ensure security” diplomatic buildings.
The French intervention, engaged with Operation Barkhane against the jihadists in the Sahel, is considered ineffective and fuels the hostility of the population. France is also accused of protecting economic interests in Burkina Faso. “These are social media rumours. France has no interest in minerals or oil resources,” said professor of geopolitics and specialist in Africa Michel Galy, on franceinfo. However, he denounces the blunders of French leaders in recent decades in Africa which have been able to generate “aggravated hostility” and cast doubt on possible interference.
3Why were Russian flags seen in the protests?
The hundreds of people who demonstrated in the capital just before the coup on Friday demanded the departure of Paul-Henri Damiba, the end of the French military presence in the Sahel, but also military cooperation with Russia. Many Russian flags were visible in the demonstrations, as reported by France 24 journalist Wassim Nasr on Twitter.
#BurkinaFaso last night at #Ougadougou a putschist soldier with the flag of the #Russia on an armored vehicle in the colors of the#UN. A whole symbol pic.twitter.com/poTnK9S0RE
— Wassim Nasr (@SimNasr) October 2, 2022
Moreover, the putschists did not hide their “firm will to go to other partners ready to help in the fight against terrorism”. This was declared by the new head of the military junta, Ibrahim Traoré, on Saturday afternoon. The magazine Foreign Policy (in English) assured last July, relying on American intelligence sources, that the Wagner group could target Burkina Faso. These Russian mercenaries close to the Kremlin are already operating in neighboring Mali. Russia’s popularity is growing in West African countries, particularly under the influence of numerous Russian propaganda campaigns on social networks, underlined the washington post (in English) last April.
4How is the international community reacting?
On Saturday, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned “any attempt to seize power by force of arms”. The African Union denounces a “unconstitutional change of government”. Just like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which deplores this coup “untimely at a time when progress has been made towards a return to constitutional order no later than July 1, 2024”. In the same way, the European Union criticizes a putsch which puts “in danger the efforts undertaken for several months for the transition”.