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Burkina Faso President Kabore Reportedly Detained by Troops Amid Clashes in Ouagadougou

© AP Photo / Sophie GarciaA mutinous soldier fires into the air at the Bobo interchange, near the Lamizana camp in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou Sunday Jan. 23, 2022
A mutinous soldier fires into the air at the Bobo interchange, near the Lamizana camp in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou Sunday Jan. 23, 2022 - Sputnik International, 1920, 24.01.2022
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On Sunday there were reports of heavy gunfire in the capital city Ouagadougou but authorities initially denied there had been any coup attempt.
AFP reported on Monday, citing security sources as saying that President Roch Marc Christian Kabore has been detained by the armed forces.

"President Kabore, the head of parliament, and the ministers are effectively in the hands of the soldiers" at the Sangoule Lamizana barracks, AFP reported, citing sources.

Later in the day, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said in a statement that the situation was "an attempted coup" and urged the military to end the unrest, adding that the armed forces are now responsible for the "physical integrity" of the presiedent.
In the meantime, Air France reportedly cancelled two flights to Burkina Faso on Monday, and the French Embassy in the country advised citizens not to go outside, following reports of violent clashes and unrest in the military.
The news came after Burkina Faso witnessed massive clashes between protesters and the security forces on Sunday; demonstrators were demanding that President Kabore resign because he has proved himself unable to quell the terrorist insurgency, which has been plaguing the country for years.
There have been reports of unrest in the army, but Minister of Defence Aime Barthelemy Simpore told state broadcaster RTB it was just "a few barracks" in the capital.
The country's northern regions that border Niger and Mali have been repeatedly targeted by jihadists affiliated with the al-Qaeda* and Daesh* terrorist groups. There was a spike in attacks in recent months, which prompted the Burkina Faso government to evacuate some settlements.
* Daesh (also known as Islamic State, ISIS or IS), and al-Qaeda are terrorist organisations banned in Russia and many other countries.
CORRECTION: Sputnik initially reported this piece as "Burkina Faso Military Declares They're Now Governing Country". However, it still remains unclear whether there was a coup attempt by the armed forces, and who is in charge of the country at the moment.
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