Heavy gunfire reported at Burkina Faso military base
Source: AP
By SAM MEDNICK
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) Heavy gunfire rang out at a military base in Burkina Fasos capital early Sunday, prompting fears that a coup attempt was underway after weeks of growing frustration with the governments handling of the Islamic insurgency wracking the country.
The government put out a statement acknowledging gunfire in army barracks but denying an army takeover of the country. President Roch Marc Christian Kabore has not been detained, according to Defense Minister Aime Barthelemy Simpore.
State broadcaster RTB carried a news headline describing the gunfire as acts of discontent by soldiers.
The military hierarchy is working to restore calm and serenity in the barracks, it read. Contrary to some information, no institution of the republic has been targeted.
Protestors take to the streets of Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou Saturday Jan. 22, 2022, 27, 2021, protesting the government's inability to stop jihadist attacks spreading across the country and calling for President Roch Marc Christian Kabore to resign. (AP Photo/Sophie Garcia)
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/africa-burkina-faso-ouagadougou-roch-marc-christian-kabore-b5f6654b95362410df94852ff7a774d9
Polybius
(15,235 posts)Just when I thought I knew them all...
PatSeg
(46,773 posts)Then realized I'd never heard of that country either.
getagrip_already
(14,225 posts)heck, there are 350 towns in my state, many of which I've never heard of even though I've been almost everywhere.
It used to be called the upper volta, which I vaguely remember hearing about at some point......
Emile
(21,882 posts)I had no idea where this country is.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)the Christian-dominated regions to the south. About half of Africa is Christian dominated, but this whole band across Africa is involved in major religious/ethnic warring for control as Islam has been spreading south. Millions of people have been displaced by Muslim jihadist and separatist attacks.
marie999
(3,334 posts)Well, I do now that I looked on a map.