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2014 Burkinab uprisingFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses. (October 2014)2014 Burkinab uprisingDate 28 October 2014[1] ongoingLocation Burkina Faso Ouagadougou, Bobo Dioulasso and Ouahigouya, BurkinaFasoCausesConstitutional electoral law change (abolition of presidential term limits)GoalsPolitical reforms, mainly discontinuation of the president's termMethodsProtestsRiotsCivil resistanceCivil disobedienceDemonstrationsResultSuspension of constitutional amendment bill in parliamentParliament dissolvedPresident Blaise Compaor resigns and flees to Ivory CoastYacouba Isaac Zida becomes acting president

Parties to the civil conflictOpposition parties[which?]People's Movement for Progress[citation needed]Union for Progress and ChangeUnion for Rebirth/Sankarist MovementGovernment of Burkina FasoLead figuresZphirin DiabrBenewende SankaraSimon CompaorRoch Marc Christian Kabor[citation needed]Salif Diallo[citation needed]General Kouam Lougu

(Since 30 October)President Blaise CompaorPrime Minster Luc-Adolphe Tiao[dubious discuss]National Assembly Speaker Soungalo OuattaraCasualties6 deaths(at least 3 on 30 October)(1 after army takeover)The Burkinab uprising was a series of demonstrations and riots in Burkina Faso inOctober 2014 that quickly spread to multiple cities. They began in response toattempts at changing the constitution to allow President Blaise Compaor to run again and extend his 27-year term. Following a tumultuous day on 30 October, whichincluded the involvement of former Defence Minister Kouam Lougu and the burning o

f parliament and other government buildings as well as the ruling Congress for Democracy and Progress party's headquarters, Compaor dissolved the government anddeclared a state of emergency before eventually fleeing to Ivory Coast with thesupport of President Alassane Ouattara.

General Honor Nabr Traor announced that a transitional government would run the coutry until an election within 12 months. After another day of mass protests and initially refusing to resign, after mounting domestic pressure Compaor resigned from his 27-year rule on 31 October and Traor took over as the interim head of state. However, Lieutenant Colonel Yacouba Isaac Zida also staked a claim to be inte

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rim head of state citing Traor's unpopularity. A statement by military chiefs asserted that Zida had their unanimous backing. A coalition of unnamed opposition parties rejected the military takeover. Further protests were called for the morning of 2 November,[2] but were smaller yet there was at least one casualty amidst a police response.

Contents [hide]1 Background2 Protests2.1 Initial2.2 30 October2.3 31 October2.4 Post-resignation3 Response3.1 Resignation4 Reactions5 References6 External linksBackground[edit]Following an amendment in 2000, the constitution limits presidents to two termsof five years. However, the restrictions were not applied retroactively, allowing President Blaise Compaor, who had been in office since 1987, to run for a further two terms and be re-elected in 2005 and 2010.[3]

In regards to the 2015 presidential election, Compaor tried to extend his 27 years in power by enacting a constitutional amendment to lift term limits. As a result, the opposition called for protests against the measure that was sitting in parliament.[1] Some people suggested the move could "spark an uprising."[4]

The Burkinab Spring in 2011 also called for change amid a stagnant economy and anon-responsive state, which was met with some concessions. The events magnifieda divide, and distrust, between the regular army and the special units, such asthe Regiment of Presidential Security.[5]

Protests[edit]Initial[edit][icon] This section requires expansion. (October 2014)

Protests started in late October.[1] Unnamed opposition called for a blockade ofparliament.[6]

On 29 October, a mass rally took place against a "constitutional coup" involvedhundreds of thousands of people and also involved street battles.[7]

30 October[edit]

Parts of the Assemble Nationale (pictured in 2013) were burnt down during the protests of 30 October.The most serious events occurred on 30 October with the gathering of tens of thousands of people. Police used tear gas to deter the demonstrators, yet they broke through police lines[8] to torch government buildings, including the city hall

building, and the ruling Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) party's headquarters. The crowd headed to the presidential palace, while the military firedrubber bullets at about 1,500 people storming the National Assembly of Burkina Faso. Protesters burnt documents and stole computer equipment, while cars outsidethe building were set ablaze.[3] Parts of the parliament building was also on fire, including the Speaker Soungalo Ouattara's office, but the main chamber wasuntouched.[7] The presidential guard fired on civilians charging into Frances Compaor's home leading to at least three deaths.[8] The state broadcaster, RTB's,[7] building for its radio unit, Maison de la Radio which was under renovation,[9]and television were also stormed.[1] At the television unit's building, protest

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ers posed on the set of the evening news programme, while soldiers were deployedoutside the Maison de la Radio with an armored personnel carrier to defend it from the crowd.[10] Five people were reported killed during the day. Some soldiers, including former Defence Minister General Kouam Lougu, joined the protests.[3]Unnamed opposition activists claimed there had been 30 deaths.[11]

The BBC reported that in an area where MPs live two houses were burning and smoke was billowing from two or three more, while Hotel Azalai was on fire. State-television was off-air, while the 3G network and SMS services were blocked, but internet access and telephones were available. Violent protests also occurred in the country's second largest city Bobo-Dioulasso,[3] including the toppling of statues[1] and the local CDP headquarters,[7] and in Ouahigouya, in the north.[10]Ouagadougou airport was closed and all arriving and departing flights were canceled until further notice.[12]

Many MPs also fled to an unnamed nearby hotel. Opposition[clarification needed]MP Ablasse Ouedraogo said: "I was inside when the demonstrators stormed in. I was put in secure place by security people of the parliament. Now it is difficultto say what happens next but things are out of control because the demonstratorsdo not listen to anyone."[13] General Honor Nabr Traor imposed a night curfew.[14]

31 October[edit]Following Diabr's call, the next day, protesters then gathered at Ouagadougou's central Place de la Nation and outside the army headquarters amidst reports of a

tense standoff at the latter with chants of "fulfill your responsibilities or wewill do so ourselves."[15] By the end of the day Compaor had resigned and, though there was an initial dispute in the presidency, by 1 November, Zida was declared interim president.

Post-resignation[edit]On 1 November, Ouagadougou Mayor Simon Compaor led volunteers on "Operation ManaMana" (Operation Clean-Clean in Dyula) to clear the streets, which earned him praise on social media.[5] A coalition of unnamed opposition parties also issued astatement that read:[2]

The victory of the popular uprising - and consequently the management of the transition - belongs to the people and should not in any way be confiscated by the

army. Our consultation reaffirmed that this transition should be democratic andcivilian in character.

Their joint statement also called for a "democratic and civilian transition. Thevictory born from this popular uprising belongs to the people, and the task ofmanaging the transition falls by right to the people. In no case can it be confiscated by the army."[11]

A demonstration was called at the Place de la Nation for the morning of 2 November. On 1 November, soldiers loyal to Zida patrolled the streets of Ouagadougou after his early morning radio announcement of assuming the role of interim head of state in order to avoid pandemonium during the democratic transition. Protestscontinued at the Place de la Nation demanding civilian control of a new governm

ent instead of a military subversion of what was seen as a grassroots uprising.At the television studio of BF1 television he said: "This is not a coup d'etat but a popular uprising. I salute the memory of the martyrs of this uprising and bow to the sacrifices made by our people." He also called for the African Union and ECOWAS' support for the transition.[2]

In the end, France 24 reported that thousands gathered for the protest, down from the up to a million demonstrators previously, at what has now been nicknamed "Revolution Square."[11] Protesters at RTB's television building were dispersed by soldiers, who sealed off the building, as well as the Place de la Nation.[16]

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Zida vowed that "any act likely to undermine the transition process will be suppressed with vigor."[17] The army's attempt to clear the protesters resulted in them opening fire at those gathered at the RTB causing one death.[18] One such placard at the protests equated Zida with Judas. Reports indicated opposition PDC[clarification needed] leader Saran Sereme,[19] along with an unnamed army general and a crowd of their supporters, went to the RTB site to declare themselves incharge of the transition. As gunshots were heard, RTB was taken off the air forhours with an unnamed army spokesman saying: "The army does not want power. Butthe anarchy needs to stop. Any violation will be punished with the utmost energy." The Regiment of Presidential Security then sought to block access to the Place de la Nation.[18]

Response[edit]

Former President Blaise Compaor.Lopold Sdar Senghor International Airport authorities in Dakar were quoted by TheGuardian as having confirmed Compaor was in Senegal, but there was later disputeas to his location,[1][8] although his presence outside the country was affirmed.[20] A communique read on Radio Omega at 17:00 reported that Compaor had "dissolved government," declared a state of emergency and made an appeal to "stay calm."[3] He later said he was prepared to leave office at the end of the transition.[21] Compaor then said that he would retain his position for a year under a transitional government and then hand over power. He also added he was lifting the "state of siege" he had previously declared.[22]

Communications Director Ibrahim Sakande announced the state of emergency with the "chief of the armed forces is in charge of implementing this decision." The reason given by Compaor was to "create conditions for change," the statement continued. "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 thecrisis." Union for Rebirth/Sankarist Movement President Benewende Sankara, whocalled for the march, said: "The president must deal with the consequences."[23]

Union for Progress and Change President Zphirin Diabr[24] called on the military to side with "the people" and called for Compaor's resignation. Opposition activist Emile Pargui said: "October 30 is Burkina Faso's black spring, like the Arab Spring."[3] Reports in the French media also indicated Compaor's brother, Francis,

[8] was arrested as he tried to flee the country, while Lougu's statements suggested the army may step in to remove Compaor from power.[1] Opposition figure[clarification needed] Simon Compaor (not related) said: "It is absolutely necessary for Blaise Compaor to leave power and for a transitional government to take over. Talks are taking place with General Lougue ... but there is no agreement yet." The military command announced it would issue a statement later in the day; otherunnamed opposition leaders announced having held talks with Lougu on forming a transitional government.[10] Following Compaor's pledge that "open talks with all the actors to end the crisis," Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Honor Nabr Traor hen made an announcement that a transitional government would run the country until an election within 12 months. He also announced a curfew to be in place from19:00 to 6:00. The national borders have also been closed.[25] The transitionalgovernment would occur after all-party consultations.[15]

Radio Omega FM Ouaga said that "revolution 2.0" (in reference to the popular movement led by Thomas Sankara in 1983,[1] whose eventual overthrow and assassination was blamed on Compaor[8]) has been called a victory by the opposition.[1]

After the violence peaked on 30 October, the bill was withdrawn from parliament,according to rushed statement by Communications Minister Alain Edouard Traore.Compaor then also called for "calm and serenity" on Twitter.[1]

Resignation[edit]

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Within 24 hours of the 30 October events, Compaor maintained he was still president and would lead a transitional government.[26] While unnamed international diplomats backed his move, Diabr then called for the demonstrators to occupy publicspaces amidst renewed calls for the former's resignation. "The opposition has said and will say again that the precondition for any discussion relating to a political transition is the departure, pure and simple and without condition, of Blaise Compaor." Rapper Smockey of Le Balai Citoyen told a local radio station thatthe people were "determined once and for all" to remove Compaor.[15]

Later in the day, Compaor announced he had left the presidency and that there wasa "power vacuum;" he also called for a "free and transparent" election within 90 days.[14] His resignation was done on the basis of Article 43 of the constitution of Burkina Faso which states that in case of a vacancy within the presidency, a new election should be held within at least 60-90 days after the official vacancy declaration, a move that some politicians such as Diabr deem difficult to carry out.[5] Protesters then gathered at army headquarters that day then cheeredwhen the announcement was made. Traor then took over the reigns as head of statein an interim capacity.[14] Though demonstrators danced and cheered in Ouagadougou at the announcement of Compaor's statement being broadcast, the mood cooled on news of Traor taking interim office. Arsene Evariste Kabore, the former editor-in-chief of state television, suggested people were not happy at the decision[27] as he was Compaor's aide de camp.[14] Chants were heard calling for Traor to quit.[28] Some protesters even called for election of Lougu,[29] who was fired by Compaor in 2003.[30] People's Movement for Progress member, Monou Tapsoaba, said th

at instead of Traor "we need someone credibly. Traor is Blaise Campaor's henchman."[28]

Former Deputy Commander of the Regiment of Presidential Security[31] LieutenantColonel Yacouba Issaac Zida appeared to challenge Traor's usurpation of power while aligning himself with the protesters. He announced his own emergency measuresand deployed troops on the streets.[32] Hours after Traor's announcement, a recorded address on the website of RTB, indicated Zida announced he would lead the transition cited Traor's unpopularity in announcing he would lead the transition [31] The next day, a statement was then issued by unnamed top military leaders that read: "Lieutenant Colonel Yacouba Issac Zida has been elected unanimously tolead the transition period opened after the departure of President Blaise Compaore."[33] The statement was also signed by Traor. Zida then said: "The aspirations

for democratic change [by the Burkinab youth] will be neither betrayed, nor disappointed."[11]

By 1 November, Compaor had fled to Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast. Though he was en route from Kosyam, the presidential palace, to P on the national highway, they diverted before arriving in Nobr, 45 kilometres from P. While being in constant contactwith Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, the latter sent a helicopter to an unnamed uninhabited area in the afternoon to retrieve him and his entourage.[34] The government of Ivory Coast[who?] issued a statement saying that Compaor was inthe country with his family and entourage but did not specify his location. Reuters quoted military sources as saying he was staying at a presidential retreat in Assinie. Unnamed diplomats were also quoted as saying he was alarmed at the possibility of prosecution on human rights charges upon leaving office.[2] Zida al

so said on television that Compaor was "in a safe place" and that his "safety andwellbeing are assured."[11]