Timeline: Burkina Faso’s latest coup

As the African Union suspends Burkina Faso, here is a timeline of its latest military coup – the seventh in the Sahel nation since independence in 1960.

– Jihadi attacks –

Since 2015, the poor West African country has been plagued by jihadist violence that has claimed more than 2,000 lives and forced 1.5 million out of their homes.

In the bloodiest attack, 132 to 160 people were killed in a raid on the northeastern village of Solhan in June 2021.

– Revolt of soldiers –

On 22 January, police in the capital Ouagadougou clashed with demonstrators in a government-banned protest over their handling of the jihadist threat.

The next day the soldiers revolted in several army barracks.

On 24 January, President Roch Marc Christian Cabore was arrested by rebel troops after gunshots were heard near his private residence.

Read also: SA condemns Burkina Faso coup as Durko reaffirms security of South Africans

– coup –

A group of officers later go on television to announce that the Patriotic Movement for Conservation and Restoration (MPSR) – a junta led by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandago Damiba – is under control.

The United Nations, France and the West African nation all condemn the coup, with the regional bloc ECOWAS suspending Burkina Faso on Friday.

– ’60 terrorists’ killed-

Over the weekend, France – whose troops are helping counter the Islamic insurgency – said 60 “terrorists were pulled out” in a joint operation with Burkinabe troops between January 16 and January 23, the day the coup began .

African Union on Monday Burkina Faso suspended “Till the Restoration of Constitutional Order in the Country”.

– Constitution restored –

Later in the day the country’s new military leaders say they have restored the constitution and were ensuring “continuity of the state pending the establishment of transitional bodies”.