One Person Killed During Political Coup in Burkina Faso
Unrest in Burkina Faso heightens as gunfire went off outside the headquarters of its state television Sunday.
At least one person was killed in the chaos sparked by an opposition politician who tried to announce she was in control of Burkina Faso just days after the longtime president of over 25 years, Blaise Compaore, was forced out.
There is still uncertainty about who is in charge of the West African country now that Compaore has resigned and fled to Ivory Coast with his family. There were many protests demanding that he was ousted.
A day after the military announced that a lieutenant colonel would serve as interim leader until elections could be held, nearly a thousand people protested against it. They demanded that the country have a civilian and democratic transition to power.
Opposition politician Saran Sereme said she would be the interim president.
Army General Kwame Lougue showed up to the headquarters of state television, where Sereme was set to make the announcement. He blocked her efforts.
Gunfire was let off as the military forced its way about deploying armored vehicles along all of the avenues leading to the studios.
Quite a bit of confusion and chaos is still going on after the president's resignation. It was confirmed Saturday that Lt. Col. Isaac Yacouba Zida would be the transitional leader. And right before that, two different military officials said they would be in charge.
"The army cannot lead us. They have disqualified themselves," said Stanislas Benewinde Sankara, the leader of one opposition party.
Some activists on Sunday questioned the legitimacy of Zida's rule while Sankara called for the dismissal of his government.
African Union Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma called for a "civilian-led transition that would culminate, as soon as possible, in the holding of free, fair and transparent elections," according to the AP.
Burkina Faso had long been a country of stability in politically volatile West Africa.
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