Burkina Faso president Blaise Compaoré has imposed a state of emergency in the country which he rules for 27 years, and has dissolved the country’s parliament, BBC News reports. The decision was made due to the wave of massive protests in the country’s capital city, Ouagadougou, where the angry mob has set fire to the Parliament building and other government facilities. The riots were triggered by the proposed vote of the MPs to allow Compaoré to run for president again in the 2015 elections.
The protesters converging on the main square of Ouagadougou demand President Compaoré’s immediate resignation. The military has joined the protest, after they were ordered to fire live bullets on the crowd. The protesters were also joined by General Kouame Lougue, former defense minister of the country – the crowd is requesting him to be installed as president. Similar protests have been reported from other towns and cities of the West African country.
This is not the first time the local population protests against the long rule of President Compaoré. Between 1983 and 1987 he was the deputy of former president Thomas Sankara, until he turned on him in 1987, seizing power in the country through a coup d’état, that led to the “accidental” death of president Thomas Sankara. Since then he won the elections four times, and would have run for president for a fifth – and his attempt to force this matter through the country’s parliament led to the current protests.
“A state of emergency is declared across the national territory. The chief of the armed forces is in charge of implementing this decision which enters into effect today. I dissolve the government from today so as to create conditions for change. I’m calling on the leaders of the political opposition to put an end to the protests. I’m pledging from today to open talks with all the actors to end the crisis.”
Presidential statement issued today
Zephirin Diabre, leader of the opposition in the country, has asked for the military to side with the people, demanding the president’s resignation. UN Special Envoy to West Africa, Mohamed ibn Chambas, will visit Burkina Faso in Friday to attempt to disarm the situation.