Burkina Faso President Kabore detained by soldiers

Burkina Faso's President Roch Marc Christian Kabore has been detained in the capital, Ouagadougou, by mutinying soldiers, news agencies and media outlets reported on Monday.

Reuters and France24 cited security sources and a West African diplomat in their reports, while The Associated Press said two of the mutinying soldiers had informed it by telephone.

Government officials did not immediately respond to the reports.

The news reports today came a day after soldiers staged mutinies at several army barracks, prompting fears of a coup in the conflict-hit country. Later yesterday,



heavy gunfire was also heard near Kabore’s residence in the capital, Ouagadougou.

According to Media reports, several armoured vehicles from the presidential fleet, riddled with bullets, could be seen near the residence.

President Kabore has led Burkina Faso since being elected in 2015 after a popular uprising overthrew longtime strongman President Blaise Compaore, who was in power for nearly three decades. He was reelected in November 2020 for another five-year term but frustration has been growing at his inability to stem the spread of violence across the country.