Femi Anjorin.
Outrage has continued to greet the military take-over of the government in the tiny West African country of Burkina Faso. The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, expressed his disappointment over the coup; he therefore called for the immediate release of the political leaders.
On Wednesday, the Interim President, Michel Kafando and Prime Minister, Isaac Zida, were detained at a cabinet meeting in the presidential palace. A new government was billed to take over from them after elections on 11 October.
Mr Ki-Moon’s official statement reads, “This incident is a flagrant violation of Burkina Faso’s Constitution and Transitional Charter”.
In the same way, the United States also called for the immediate release of the interim president and prime minister. The statement released by the State Department spokesperson, John Kirby reads, “The United States strongly condemns any attempt to seize power through extra-constitutional means or resolve internal political disagreements using force.”
Meanwhile, there were protests outside the country’s presidential palace. The soldiers however fired gun shots to disperse the protesters and forced the radio and television stations to stop broadcasting.
Moumina Cheriff Sy, the speaker of the transitional parliament, Moumina Cheriff Sy, described the coup as “a blow to the republic and its institutions.”