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The rise and fall of Blaise Compaore
31 Octob'r 2014 Las updatid at 21:34 By Thomas Fessy BBC West Afrikie cerrespondent Blaise Compaere sparket public ang'r aft'r he tride ta extend his'n 27-year rule Thar wuz jes one mer year ta go befor change could finallee come, through t'nex...
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Army chief takes power in Burkina Faso
T' hed o'Burkina Faso’s armet ferces took pow'r today aft'r Presdint Blaise Compaere resignet amid mass protests agin un attempt ta extend his'n 27-year rule.Mr Compaere, n' offus since a 1987 militree coup, had souite ta defy popular preshure fer 'im ta step down, aft'r a day o'violent unrest u...
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Burkina Faso general takes over as Compaore resigns
31 Octob'r 2014 Las updatid at 15:15 Pleese turn un JavaScript. Media rekwires JavaScript ta play. Laeila Adjovi, n' Ouagadougou, reperts un Mr Compaere’s removal ...
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Burkina Faso protesters demand president stands down
Hundreds starmet parliament an' uther public bildins includin t'nashshunal telavishun heedkwarters n' t'capital Ougadougou, ransackyun' offices an' a'settin fire ta cars despite a heevy pleece an' army presence. Mr Compaere initiallee callt a state o'emergency but appeeret un telavishun ...
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Burkina Faso president defies calls to step down
30 Octob'r 2014 Las updatid at 23:21 Pleese turn un JavaScript. Media rekwires JavaScript ta play. A resident tole t'BBC he saw MPs’ homes un fire, reperts Lebo Diseko ...
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Burkina Faso general takes over as Compaore resigns
31 October 2014 Last updated at 15:15
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President Compaore had earlier urged talks with all parties
Burkina Faso’s President Blaise Compaore has announced his resignation, following violent protests at his attempt to extend his 27-year rule. Mr Compaore issued a statement saying the presidency was now vacant and urging elections within 90 days. Military chief Gen Honore Traore said he had taken over as head of state “in line with constitutional measures”. Crowds danced and cheered in the capital, Ouagadougou, after Mr Compaore’s resignation was broadcast. On Thursday, protesters angry at his attempt to amend the constitution had set fire to parliament and government buildings. ‘Social peace’ Mr Compaore had earlier vowed to remain in power until a transitional government completed its work in 2015, although he had agreed not to seek another term.
Thousands gathered in the Place de la Nation in Ouagadougou
Honore Traore, centre, announces that he has taken over
However, the opposition continued to demand that he resign – a key leader, Zephirin Diabre, urged protesters to occupy public spaces. After the resignation, Mr Diabre told the BBC’s Focus on Africa radio programme: “We are all relieved by what is happening – and this is our demand for so long so we are very happy – and we need to work on the transition to take care of our country.” Mr Compaore’s statement, read on television, said: “In order to preserve the democratic gains, as well as social peace, I declare a power vacuum to allow the establishment of a transition leading to free and fair elections within a maximum of 90 days.” He added: “For my part, I think I have fulfilled my duty.” His whereabouts now remain unclear.
People celebrate after the news of the resignation was announced in Ouagadougou
However, Reuters news agency reported that a heavily armed convoy believed to be carrying Mr Compaore was travelling towards the southern town of Po. One protester, Sam, told the BBC: “Blaise Compaore has gone away, he’s running away and we are happy. The words are not coming so easy because I’m very happy, my children are going to know another president.” France welcomed the resignation, saying it “allows a solution to be found to the crisis”. In a statement, Gen Traore said: “In line with constitutional measures, and given the power vacuum… I will assume as of today my responsibilities as head of state.” He added: “I undertake a solemn engagement to proceed without delay with consultations with all parties in the country so as to start the process of returning to the constitutional order as soon as possible.” Late on Thursday, he had announced the creation of the transitional government, declared the dissolution of parliament and imposed a night curfew.
BBC’s James Copnall on Blaise Compaore’s career
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BBC News looks back at Blaise Compaore’s three decades of power
Blaise Compaore was a young army officer when he seized power in 1987, a taciturn man who became known as Beau Blaise – good looking Blaise. The nickname did not necessarily suggest he was popular. Many blamed him for the death of his predecessor, the charismatic revolutionary Thomas Sankara, who was killed by soldiers in mysterious circumstances. Controversy would be a perpetual feature of Beau Blaise’s time in power. The president was accused of stoking rebellions around West Africa. Yet over time Mr Compaore oversaw a transformation of his image, internationally at least. This inflammatory figure became a man relied upon to put out fires around the region. Mr Compaore won a series of elections, though the opposition always complained the odds were stacked dramatically in his favour. He largely followed the economic orthodoxy prescribed by international financial institutions. But Burkina Faso did not escape the poverty trap. It remains one of the least developed countries in the world.
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Burkina Faso protesters demand president stands down
Hundreds stormed parliament and other public buildings including the national television headquarters in the capital Ougadougou, ransacking offices and setting fire to cars despite a heavy police and army presence.
Mr Compaore initially called a state of emergency but appeared on television just a few hours later to say it had been called off.
“I have heard the message,” the president said.
But he refused to step down, saying instead that he was “available” for talks on “a period of transition after which power will be transferred to a democratically elected president”.
At a hastily assembled press conference earlier in the day, the army said it was imposing a dusk-to-dawn curfew. It pledged to restore constitutional order within 12 months.
The communique, read out by an officer, was signed by the army chief of staff Nabere Honore Traore.
A leading opposition member, Benewende Sankara, described the army’s move as a “coup” and said protesters would accept nothing less than the president’s immediate resignation.
Mr Compaore “is again in the process of duping the people,” he said. “We have been saying for a long time that he must hand in his resignation. His departure is non-negotiable.”
Mr Sankara and another opposition leader gave the death toll from the violence as “around 30″. AFP was only able to confirm four deaths and six seriously injured, based partly on reports from the capital’s main hospital.
The chaos erupted this week as lawmakers prepared to vote on legislation that would allow 63-year-old Compaore – who took power in a 1987 coup – to contest elections in November 2015.
The lawmakers called off the vote, but not before Burkina Faso plunged into its worst crisis since a wave of mutinies shook the country in 2011.
Black smoke billowed out of smashed windows at the parliament building on Thursday, where several offices were ravaged by flames.
Several hundred protesters also broke into the headquarters of the national television station RTB, pillaging equipment and smashing cars, AFP correspondents said.
The ruling party headquarters in the second city of Bobo Dioulasso and the city hall were also torched by protesters, witnesses said.
The United States welcomed Mr Compaore’s apparent decision to abandon his bid for another term.
“We also welcome his decision to form a government of national unity to prepare for national elections and to transfer power to a democratically elected successor,” said State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki in a statement.
Former colonial power France appealed for calm and said it “deplored” the violence.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon dispatched a special envoy to help restore calm and the European Union called for an end to the violence.
Many of the tens of thousands massed on the streets of the capital called for a retired general and former defence minister, Kouame Lougue, to take control, shouting “Lougue in power!”
There were reports that army chief Traore had met with Lougue earlier in the day to discuss the crisis.
Mr Compaore’s bid to cling to power has angered many, particularly young people, in a country where 60 percent of the population of almost 17 million is under 25.
Many have spent their entire lives under the leadership of one man and, with Burkina Faso stagnating at 183rd out of 186 countries on the UN human development index, many have had enough.
The situation is being closely watched across Africa where at least four heads of state are preparing or considering similar changes to stay in power, from Burundi to Benin.
Mr Compaore was only 36 when he seized power in the coup in which his former friend and one of Africa’s most loved leaders, Thomas Sankara, was ousted and assassinated.
He has remained in power since, re-elected president four times since 1991 – to two seven-year and two five-year terms.
Known in colonial times as Upper Volta, the landlocked country became independent from France in 1960 and its name was changed to Burkina Faso (“the land of upright men”) in 1984.
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Burkina Faso president defies calls to step down
31 October 2014 Last updated at 01:58
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A resident told the BBC he saw MPs’ homes on fire, reports Lebo Diseko
Burkina Faso’s President Blaise Compaore says he will stay in power for a year under a transitional government, following a day of violent protests demanding his resignation. Earlier, demonstrators angered by his bid to extend his 27-year rule torched parliament and government buildings. Mr Compaore said he would hand over power once the transitional government had completed its 12-month term. He also said he was lifting a “state of siege” he had declared earlier. In the previous announcement, Mr Compaore called for the military to implement emergency measures. This was followed by a press conference where army chief General Honore Traore announced that a “transitional body [would] be put in place in consultation with all parties”. “A return to the constitutional order is expected in no more than 12 months,” he said. UN chief Ban Ki-moon’s special envoy for West Africa, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, will fly to Burkina Faso on Friday to try to ease the crisis, the UN said.
Analysis: Thomas Fessy, BBC West Africa correspondent The president said he was ready to open a political dialogue to set the terms of a transitional government that he would lead until the next presidential election. His current term ends in November next year, so staying in power now would be legal. But would he be legitimate? Opposition leaders and protesters say no. They want him to step down now. President Compaore appeared to want to calm things down but he spoke like a man who still wants to decide when he goes. That could be the recipe for more unrest.
Parliament was ransacked and set ablaze
Cars were also in flames
The defence forces have been trying to disperse the protesters
‘Patriotic action’ Generla Traore has not spelt out who would lead the interim administration. He also declared the imposition of an overnight curfew, as well as the dissolution of parliament. In a message broadcast by a local TV station after the general’s statement, Mr Compaore said he welcomed the military’s “patriotic action”. He said he would hand over power to a democratically elected government after the transitional administration had completed its term. He added that he was withdrawing a controversial law that would enable him to seek another term in office.
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Statement by army chief General Honore Traore: ”The national assembly is dissolved, the government is dissolved”
His plan to seek re-election triggered demonstrations in the capital, Ouagadougou. The protests are the most serious yet against Mr Compaore’s rule. The main opposition leader, Zephirin Diabre, had told a local radio station the state of emergency was unacceptable. “We are calling on the people to show that they are against it,” he was quoted as saying. “The resignation of President Blaise Compaore is the only thing that can bring peace to the country.” At least one person has been killed in the protests, says BBC Afrique’s Yacouba Ouedraogo in the capital. Mr Diabre said dozens of protesters had been killed across the country by the security forces in a “barbaric escalation of violence”. The military fired live bullets to try to disperse protesters who had occupied parliament, our correspondent says. Protesters also surged towards the presidential palace, and a government helicopter flying overhead fired tear gas at them, Reuters news agency reported. Witnesses say dozens of soldiers joined the protest in Ouagadougou’s main square, including a former defence minister, Gen Kouame Lougue. Protesters demanded his installation as president, our reporter says.
Blaise Compaore
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President Blaise Compaore spoke to the BBC earlier this week
Served under President Thomas Sankara as minister of state to the presidency Took power after Sankara was killed in mysterious circumstances by a group of soldiers in 1987 First elected president in 1991 and again in 1998 A new constitution in 2000 limited presidents to two terms in office, and limited terms to five years Won two further terms Protests at attempts to amend the term limits began a year ago, fuelled by the high cost of living
The city hall, the homes of MPs, and an upmarket hotel in Ouagadougou were also set ablaze. Similar protests hit the south-western city of Bobo Dioulasso, and other towns in the poor West African state. State television went off air after protesters ransacked its headquarters.
Mr Compaore first took power in a coup in 1987, and has won four disputed elections since then. The protests forced the government to suspend Thursday’s parliamentary vote on a constitutional amendment that would have lifted the limit on presidential terms so that Mr Compaore could run for office again in 2015. Mr Compaore is a staunch ally of the US and France, which uses Burkina Faso as a base for military operations against militant Islamists in the Sahel region. Are you in Burkina Faso? Send us your eyewitness accounts and views by emailing [email protected] You can email your photos to [email protected]
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