Burkina Faso Begins 2022 in Grand Style.

Every government has a an army who are responsible for the safety and security of the state. Sometimes when the military get unsatisfied with the executive arm of government, they resort to seize the executive power. This is in other words referred to as a coup d'etat. Most Burkinabes are familiar with that expression, I mean very familiar and I'll tell you why.

As at last year, more than 200 coup d'etats have successfully happened in Africa with the most recent occuring in Chad and then Burkina Faso on the 23rd of January 2022.

People have different views of coup d'etats, while some think it's detestable, others rather think it serves the best interest of the citizens. Whichever side you are on, it doesn't change that fact that one who has power in their right hand and a gun in their left hand is scary and capable of anything. This is the more reason why economic blocs frown at countries that suffer coups and lebels sanction against them especially if transition does not happen quickly.

The coups in Mali, Chad and now Burkina Faso are the most recent ones. Since May last year, Mali is yet to experience power transition from military to civilian, Asssimi Goïta remains interim President. Barely one month later, Chad lost her President and then a military takeover ensued. Transition has not happened yet as former President's son leads the transitional government. 

Burkina Faso is that African country with the most coup d'etats (10) since independence as World Atlas published, with the most recent happening last Sunday night. Gunfire went off at the residential residence in the capital city, Ouagadougou an in other army barracks on the 23rd of this month. 

Uniformed soldiers went ahead to make a TV announcement that they had seized power. Up till date, the civilian President Roch Marc Christian Kabore is nowhere to be found, he was probably arrested and "kept in a safe place" as the soldiers claimed.

Few hours after the takeover, Burkinabes flooded the streets in jubilation. As at present, a handwritten letter has been on the internet from President Kabore saying that he has quitted power, I am not sure yet whether he wrote it and wheth it was willingly or under duress. Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, commander of the 3rd military region, emerges as the country's new strongman.



On the international scene, the UN, USA, France, the EU and ECOWAS have condemned the military coup.

Why will the international community condemn a military coup for which citizens jubilate? I cannot find a pleasant answer to that question yet.

To me, coup or no coup, let Afrika rise. 

Let's keep watch to see how this unfolds but for the meantime, the Burkinabe Men's football team will be facing Tunisia this Saturday 29th in the ongoing Africa cup of Nations- AFCON taking place in Cameroon.

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