According to the Telegraph of London, England, a coup broke out in Burkina Faso on September 17, causing the death of at least three people and injuries to 60 more civilians. The coup comes as a result of the popular uprising that forced long term president Blaise Compaore out of office on October 31, 2014. As a result of the coup, the military now currently is in power within the country as General Gilbert Diendere, who served as the chief military advisor for President Compaore for more than 30 years. Deindere had also served as the equivalent of the head of Secret Service for the President of the United States, and said that elections would not happen but there was not a specific date set.
Ghanian radio conglomerate MyJoy wrote that the United Nations, led by Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, have condemned the coup d'etat and called for the immediate release of its temporary leaders.
"The Secretary General condemns in the strongest terms the coup d'etat in Burkina Faso. He reiterates that all Burkinabé officials under detention must be released immediately and demands the resumption of the country's political transition, in accordance with Burkina Faso's Constitution and Transitional Charter," said a statement issued by a spokesperson of the Secretary General.
"The Secretary General deplores the violence reported in the country and calls on the Burkinabé defense and security forces to exercise restraint and ensure respect for the human rights and security of all Burkinabé citizens. Those responsible for the coup d'etat and its consequences must be held accountable."
International security advisor to President Obama Susan Rice said that the United States and the international community were ready to be on call for the international crisis if needed.
"The (military) junta should step aside and allow preparations for the October elections to resume immediately. The U.S. stands squarely with the people of Burkina Faso in rejecting this threat to their democratic progress," she said in her keynote address to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.
While I think it is completely reasonable for the military of Burkina Faso to want its voice heard, I am sure that it already had had plenty of power to begin with, and because of that, its overthrow of the provisional government is not acceptable. The people had wanted to oust their leader for some time and the chance for a new regime had happened until their military personnel felt that the direction of the country would not bring benefits to them like the old government had, and selfishly and forcefully overthrew the temporary government. If they really wanted a say, they should have promoted and voted for a candidate of their preference. Even if there is a small chance someone like the old president would have been elected, it is for the greater good of the country that this change would happen. Now that they have tried to take the government by force, this will never work out in their favor. However, this coup d'etat is affecting more than just the government of Burkina Faso. Ghana has seen issues arise from this as well.
25 Ghanian leaders are currently held up in their hotel in the capital in the Burkinabe capital of Ouagadougou as they were in the city for a natural conservation conference, according to GhanaWeb. The National Coordinator of Shea Network Ghana, Zakaria Iddi, says attempts to reach out to the Ghanian embassy were unacceptable.
It still remains to be seen what will happen to these leaders as Deindre says he will not leave office until the new government is put into place, according to the BBC.
Photo via Reuters
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