Gunfire Rattles Burkina Faso’s Capital as Soldiers Revolt
The New York Times
The government denied rumors of a coup, but soldiers who want changes to the fight against Islamists appear to have taken control of several military bases.
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — Gunfire erupted at military bases across this conflict-hit West African country early on Sunday as part of an attempted mutiny by soldiers angered by their government’s failure to halt a wave of Islamist militant attacks.
The firing started just before dawn at military bases in the capital, Ouagadougou, and in two other cities. When the shooting subsided hours later, the government issued a statement denying that a coup was underway and insisting that it was fully in control.
Even so, soldiers retained control of the bases and demanded sweeping changes to the campaign against Islamic militants, badly undermining the government’s authority. Riot police officers fired tear gas in central Ouagadougou to prevent a crowd of young demonstrators, calling for the ouster of President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, from reaching a traditional protest site in the city center. Mobile internet services were shut down.
