Military officers seized control of Burkina Faso, ECOWAS condemns military coup

1. Military officers in West Africa have announced the removal from office of Burkina Faso's leader, and closed all borders indefinitely.

The dismissal of military leader Paul-Henri Damiba, who himself came to power in a coup last January, was announced in a statement read out on national television.

The rebelling military also announced the closure of borders from midnight, as well as the suspension of the constitution and the dissolution of the government.

They declared the country's new leader as Captain Ibrahim Traore, adding that a group of officers who helped Mr Damiba seize power had decided to remove him due to his so-called inability to deal with a worsening Islamist insurgency.
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2. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Friday condemned the seizure of power by a military group in Burkina Faso on Friday.

Local media reported earlier on Friday that a military group led by Capt. Ibrahim Traore announced the ouster of Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, the head of the country's interim government, the suspension of the country's constitution, the dissolution of the government, and the closure of borders. The military, which claimed its allegiance to the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR), accused Damiba of diverting away from the ideals of the movement.

"ECOWAS condemns in the strongest terms the violent seizure of power that took place on Friday, September 30, 2022, in Burkina Faso.

ECOWAS considers this new coup d'état to be untimely amid the progress that has been made through diplomacy and the efforts of ECOWAS for the return to constitutional order no later than July 1, 2024," ECOWAS said in a communique published on Twitter.

The MPSR, led by Damiba, seized power in Burkina Faso on January 24. The military group ousted then-Burkinabe President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, dissolved the government and suspended the constitution. The group later announced their decision to restore the country's constitution. Since then, the MPSR has been the ruling military junta of Burkina Faso.
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3. VIDEO @WION: Soldiers in the West African country of Burkina Faso have toppled the military government. Army Captain has ousted the military leader Paul-Henri Damiba dissolving the government.