New York/The Hague:
Democratically elected President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré was overthrown on 24 January in a coup d'état by the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR), under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col.) Paul-Henri Sandoaga Damiba, commander of the third military region which is the largest in Burkina Faso. President Kaboré was detained and forced to resign under duress. The Military had also detained other high-level officials such as the Prime Minister and the president of the National Assembly whom have since then been released.
On Monday, Captain Sidsoré Kader Ouédraogo, spokesperson of the Military, officially announced the coup on state television, informing of the suspension of the Constitution and dissolution of the government and National Assembly. The Military then established a curfew, along with the closing of terrestrial and aerial borders.
This coup d’état takes place in a context of profound discontent over the security crisis fueled by the government's inability to prevent and tackle abuses by so-called jihadists groups in the country since 2015. Burkina Faso’s new leader is Lt. Col. Sandaogo Damiba, author of the announcement, was among the thirteen officers present during the national broadcast that took place after two days of mutinies and shootings in military camps in Ouagadougou. Soldiers were demanding more resources and training to fight against violent extremism’s militants, the resignation of the chiefs of the army and intelligence, and better benefits for wounded military colleagues and their families. Since 2015, self-proclaimed jihadist groups have killed more than 2,000 people (including 400 soldiers) and displaced more than 1.4 million people.
Many regional actors condemned this coup d’état and called it a step back for Burkina Faso. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will hold a virtual extraordinary summit on the situation on Friday 28 January to discuss the political developments in Burkina Faso and next steps. As a result of this meeting, the ECOWAS suspended Burkina Faso from its governing bodies. Echoing the concerns of the ECOWAS, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, “[…] all civil and military actors to favor political dialogue as a means of solving the problems of Burkina Faso […]”.
Other prominent voices in the International Community expressed their concern. The United Nations (UN) human rights chief,Ms. Michelle Bachelet, “called for a swift return to constitutional order”. UN Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, emphasized that “[t]he role of the military must be to defend their countries and their peoples, not to attack their governments and to fight for power. […] Democratic societies are a value that must be preserved. Military coups are unacceptable in the 21st century”. President of France,Emmanuel Macron, joined the ECOWAS in condemning this military coup.
Burkina Faso must respect its regional and international obligations, including as a Member State of the African Union and the ECOWAS, which may impose broad sanctions, as it was done in Guinea and Mali. Other development and cooperation partners of the country may also envisage sanctions. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Mr. Josep Borrell, alerted on potential punitive measures against the abusive new leadership of Burkina Faso. The U.S. Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Ms. Sandra Clark, noted that “U.S. law does require a review and possible suspension of assistance in cases where a democratic government is deposed by unconstitutional means.”
PGA Member Hon. Reine Sakande, MP concerned for the future of her country added that:
All democratic institutions have been suspended or dissolved in violation of the Constitution. This is the third country in the West African region to experience a military coup in the last eighteen months. It is true that self-styled ‘jihadist’ militia have inflicted much pain in my country and the region, but a military coup, enforcing a state of exception is not a viable solution. The dissolution of the government and National Assembly severely undermines the progress made by my country in the strengthening of its democratic institutions
The vague promise of the Military to “return to constitutional order” within a “reasonable timeframe” offers no guarantees to the country and its population, in a region marred by severe human rights violations inter alia committed by violent extremism’s insurgents. Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) urges all Burkinabe military authorities to immediately surrender their weapons and respect the constitutional order by returning to a civilian-led and democratically elected government.
