• Burkina Faso has revolution ousting 27-year president Compaore, series of coups land Col. Zida in po
    4 replies, posted
[quote]Burkina Faso’s president, Blaise Compaoré, one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, has been swept from power after 27 years by a violent popular uprising. Compaoré announced his resignation on Friday as hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in protest at plans to extend his rule. General Honoré Traoré, head of the armed forces, said he had taken charge of the west African country. But further confusion and uncertainty broke out after another military leader, Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida, declared himself to be president and saidTraoré’s claim was “obsolete”. “I assume from today the responsibilities of head of this transition and of head of state,” Zida said in his statement, read in the studio of BF1 Television and aired on radio, after apparently using his position as a commander in the president’s guard to mount a challenge to Traoré. There were reports of gunfire near the presidential palace, and Zida was said to have ordered curfew measures and the closure of borders. Zida had earlier announced Compaoré’s departure in the central Place de la Nation in the capital, Ouagadougou, to cheering from a huge crowd of protesters. He later told journalists that the former president was “in a safe place” and his “safety and wellbeing are assured”. Traoré’s whereabouts, though, were unknown after Zida announced he was taking charge. Like so many strongmen before him, Compaoré was forced to abandon the luxurious trappings of the presidential palace and flee for safety as his regime collapsed. A heavily armed convoy believed to be carrying the 63-year-old was seen travelling on Friday towards the southern town of Po, near the border with Ghana, according to sources quoted by Reuters. It was not clear whether he would seek asylum. ... Compaoré issued a statement on Friday that said: “In order to preserve the democratic gains, as well as social peace … I declare a vacancy of power with a view to allowing a transition that should finish with free and transparent elections in a maximum period of 90 days.” ... Compaoré also gained a reputation as a regional troublemaker, for example through links to the ex-president of Liberia, Charles Taylor, or instability in Ivory Coast. When the military ruler of Guinea, Moussa Dadis Camara, was shot by an aide in a failed assassination attempt, he recuperated in Burkina Faso. Goldman said he was also aware that the Islamist militant group Boko Haram operated training camps in Burkina Faso – which Nigeria requested be shut down – but Compaoré failed to comply. Compaoré was a close ally of the US and France but was also close to Muammar Gaddafi, the former Libyan leader, and Taylor, who was found guilty of aiding and abetting crimes against humanity. He had become a regional power-broker, serving as a mediator in the Ivory Coast peace process and in moves to restore civilian rule in Guinea. [/quote] [url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/31/burkina-faso-president-blaise-compaore-ousted-says-army]The Guardian[/url] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeuuTzZbPOA[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bawot1vr8Cg[/media] [img]http://i.guim.co.uk/static/w-620/h--/q-95/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/10/30/1414688252731/42f9c392-9880-4018-aa3d-85d38eee061f-620x372.jpeg[/img] [I]Soldiers attempt to stop anti-government protesters from entering the parliament building in Ouagadougou, October 30, 2014.[/I] [img]http://i.guim.co.uk/static/w-620/h--/q-95/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/10/30/1414678965673/328ea8b5-6334-483c-9144-b50cbdd0afa6-620x372.jpeg[/img] [I]Anti-government protesters take over the parliament building in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso, October 30, 2014. Photograph: Joe Penney/Reuters[/I] [img]http://i.guim.co.uk/static/w-620/h--/q-95/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/10/30/1414683784761/b76ac525-6a07-4b47-94c0-a9f278bff477-620x372.jpeg[/img] [I]Anti-government protesters take over the state TV podium in Ouagadougou Photograph: Joe Penney/Reuters[/I] [img]http://i.guim.co.uk/static/w-700/h--/q-95/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/11/1/1414849820036/Lieutenant-Colonel-Isaac--012.jpg[/img] [I]Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida has declared himself head of state in Burkina Faso. Photograph: Issouf Sanogo/AFP/Getty Images[/I]
I have no idea what to think of this. I mean, I wish them the best of luck, but armed revolutions rarely go well.
[IMG]http://24.media.tumblr.com/3b97f0f3b66ecc518ee73d94418e520a/tumblr_mo18cwyksD1qg53a8o1_1280.jpg[/IMG]
I don't really know politics in this part of Africa well... or any part of Africa for that matter... can anyone say whether this is a good or a bad thing?
[QUOTE=Fhenexx;46389744]I don't really know politics in this part of Africa well... or any part of Africa for that matter... can anyone say whether this is a good or a bad thing?[/QUOTE] wouldn't say good or bad, just more of the same. Many African "leaders" (Dictators) in the 20th century have come to power through armed ousters of previous dictators, or in some cases elected governments.
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.