In a statement read by one of them, the putschist military said that the country would "return to constitutional order" within a "reasonable period of time".
International condemnation of the military coup in Burkina Faso
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed his "strong condemnation" of the military coup in Burkina Faso, calling on the putschists to "lay down their arms" and ensure the "physical safety" of President Roc Marc Kabore.
The Secretary-General said in a statement read out by his spokesperson that he "strongly condemns any attempt to seize power by force of arms, and calls on the leaders of the coup to lay down their arms and ensure the physical safety of the President of Burkina Faso and the protection of its institutions."
It also called on the United States and the European Union to "immediately release" Burkina Faso President Roque Marc Kabore, who security sources said has been detained since Sunday in an army barracks after several military units rebelled against his authority.
A US State Department spokesperson told AFP that the United States is calling on the Burkina Faso army to "immediately release" Kabore and "respect the constitution" and "the country's civilian leaders," noting that Washington urges "all parties in this turbulent situation to preserve To calm down and beg for dialogue as a way to meet their demands.”
In Brussels, European Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said in a statement that the European Union, while closely following the developments in the situation in Burkina Faso, "calls on all actors for calm and restraint, and calls for the immediate release of President Kabore and members of state institutions."
African Union condemns "attempted coup"
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, expressed his condemnation of the "coup attempt" in Burkina Faso, as security sources reported that the country's president was arrested by soldiers who rebelled against his authority.
The African Union said in a statement that the Chairperson of the Commission "strongly condemns the coup attempt against the democratically elected President" Roc Marc Christian Kabore.
He added that he "calls on the national army and the country's security forces to strictly adhere to their republican mission, that is, to defend the country's internal and external security."
The head of the commission also called on the army and security forces to ensure the physical safety of the president and members of his government.
According to security sources in Burkina Faso, the president of the country was arrested in an army barracks by soldiers who rebelled against his authority in this country that is witnessing jihadist violence.
Two security sources said that "President Kabore, the speaker of parliament and ministers are effectively in the hands of the soldiers" at the Sangoulé Lamizana barracks in Ouagadougou.
President Kabore, who has been in power since 2015 and was re-elected in 2020 on the basis of his promises to prioritize the fight against jihadists, is increasingly protested by the population over the jihadist violence and his inability to confront it.
Masked soldiers were stationed outside the state television headquarters in Ouagadougou, in front of the Burkina Faso state television headquarters, according to AFP.
It is not yet clear whether these soldiers were from the rebels who came to take over the headquarters of Burkina Faso Radio and Television, or if they were pro-government soldiers who were deployed to guard it.
Soldiers mutinied in a number of military barracks across the country, demanding the dismissal of senior army officials and the allocation of additional resources to confront jihadist groups.
Shooting was heard late Sunday near the home of President Roch Mark Kabore in the capital, while eyewitnesses reported seeing a helicopter hovering over the place.
Tension and confusion prevailed in the capital on Monday, as the internet was cut off from mobile phones, which made it more difficult to verify rumors that the country was witnessing a new coup.
Demonstrators who went out to protest the government's handling of the jihadist threat set fire to the headquarters of the ruling party at the weekend.
But the government was quick to deny rumors of a coup, while the list of demands raised by the rebel soldiers made no mention of Kabore's ouster.
