2014 Burkina Faso uprising: Difference between revisions

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2014 Burkinabé uprising
File:Incendie parlement Ouagadougou 2014.jpg Protesters facing the Burkinabè parliament in flames, 30 October 2014.
Date	28 October 2014[1] – 31 October 2014
Location	Ouagadougou, Bobo Dioulasso and Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso
Caused by	Constitutional electoral law change (abolition of presidential term limits)
Goals	Political reforms, mainly discontinuation of the president's term
Methods	Protests Riots Civil resistance Civil disobedience Demonstrations
Resulted in	Suspension of constitutional amendment bill in parliament Parliament dissolved President Blaise Compaoré resigns
Parties
Opposition parties[which?] Union for Progress and Change Union for Rebirth/Sankarist Movement Government of Burkina Faso
Lead figures
Zéphirin Diabré Benewende Sankara Simon Compaoré General Kouamé Lougué (Since 30 October) President Blaise Compaoré
Casualties and losses
5 deaths (at least 3 on 30 October)

The Burkinabé uprising was a series of demonstrations and riots in Burkina Faso in October 2014 that quickly spread to multiple cities. They began in response to attempts at changing the constitution to allow President Blaise Compaoré to run again and extend his 27-year term. Following a tumultuous day on 30 October which included the involvement of former Defence Minister Kouamé Lougué and the burning of parliament and other government buildings as well as the ruling Congress for Democracy and Progress party's headquarters, Compaoré dissolved the government and declaring a state of emergency. General Honoré Nabéré Traoré announced that a transitional government would run the country until an election within 12 months. After initially refusing to reason and with mounting pressure, Compaoré resigned from his 27-year rule on 31 October and Traoré took over as the interim head of state.

Following an amendment in 2000, the constitution limits presidents to two terms of five years. However, the restrictions were not applied retrospectively, allowing President Blaise Compaoré, who had been in office since 1987 to run for a further two terms, to be re-elected in 2005 and 2010.^[2]

In regards to the 2015 presidential election, Compaoré 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]

The 2011 Burkinabè protests also called for change amid a stagnant economy and a non-responsive state, which was met with some concessions.

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2014)

Protests started in late October.^[1] Unnamed opposition called for a blockade of parliament.^[3]

On 29 October, a mass rally against a "constitutional coup" involved hundreds of thousands of people and also involved street battles.^[4]

The most serious events occurred on 30 October with the gathering of tens of thousands of people. Police used tear gas to prevent the demonstrators, yet they broke through police lines^[5] to torch government buildings, including city hall, and the ruling Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) party's headquarters were burned. The crowd headed to the presidential palace, while the military fired rubber bullets at the about 1,500 people storming the National Assembly of Burkina Faso. Protesters burnt documents and stole computer equipment, while cars outside the building were set ablaze.^[2] The parliament building was also ablaze, including the speaker's office^[who?] but the main chamber was untouched.^[4] The presidential guard fired on civilians charging into Frances Compaoré's home leading to at least three deaths.^[5] The national radio and television buildings were also stormed.^[1] At, RTB's,^[4] the state broadcaster's television unit, headquarters protesters posed on the set of the evening news programme, while soldiers were deployed outside the radio building with an armored personnel carrier to defend it from the crowd.^[6] Five people were reported killed during the day. Some soldiers, including former Defence Minister General Kouamé Lougué, joined the protests.^[2]

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 Bobo Dioulasso,^[2] including the toppling of statues^[1] and the local CDP headquarters,^[4] and Ouahigouya.^[6] Ouagadougou airport was closed and all arriving and departing flights were canceled until further notice.^[7] Many MPs 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 difficult to say what happens next but things are out of control because the demonstrators do not listen to anyone."^[8] General Honoré Nabéré Traoré imposed a night curfew.^[9]

Following Diabré'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 "fulfil your responsibilities or we will do so ourselves."^[10]

Dakar airport authorities were quoted by The Guardian as having confirmed Compaoré was in Senegal, but there was later dispute as to his location.^[1][5] A communique read on Radio Omega at 17:00 reported that Compaoré had "dissolved government," declared a state of emergency and made an appeal to "stay calm."^[2] He later said he was prepared to leave office at the end of the transition.^[11] Compaore 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.^[12]

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 Compaoré 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 the crisis." Union for Rebirth/Sankarist Movement President Benewende Sankara, who called for the march, said: "The president must deal with the consequences."^[13]

Union for Progress and Change President Zéphirin Diabré^[14] called on the military to side with "the people" and called for Compaoré's resignation. Opposition activist Emile Pargui said: "October 30 is Burkina Faso's black spring, like the Arab Spring."^[2] Reports in the French media also indicated Compaoré's brother, Francis,^[5] was arrested as he tried to flee the country, while Lougué's statements suggested the army may step in to remove Compaoré from power.^[1] Opposition figure^{[clarification needed]} Simon Compaoré (not related) said: "It is absolutely necessary for Blaise Compaoré 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; other unnamed opposition leaders announced having held talks with Lougué on forming a transitional government.^[6] Following Compaoré's pledge that "open talks with all the actors to end the crisis," Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Honoré Nabéré Traoré then made an announcement that a transitional government would run the country till an election within 12 months. He also announced a curfew to be in place from 19:00 to 6:00. The national borders had also been sealed.^[15] The transitional government would occur after all-party consultations.^[10]

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 Compaoré^[5]) 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. Compaoré then also called for "calm and serenity" on Twitter.^[1]

Within 24 hours of the 30 October events, Compaoré maintained he was still president and would lead a transitional government.^[16] While unnamed international diplomats backed his move, Diabré then called for the demonstrators to occupy public spaces 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 Compaoré." Rapper Smockey of Le Balai Citoyen told a local radio station that the people were "determined once and for all" to remove Compaoré.^[10]

Later in the day, Compaoré announced he had left the presidency and that there was a "power vacuum;" he also called for a "free and transparent" election within 90 days. The protesters gathered at army headquarters that day then cheered when the announcement was made. Traoré then took over the reigns as head of state in an interim capacity.^[9] Though demonstrators danced and cheered in Ougadougou at the announcement of Compaoré's statement being broadcast, the mood cooled on news of Traoré taking interim office. Arsene Evariste Kabore, the former editor-in-chief of state television suggested people are not happy at the decision^[17] as he was Compaoré's aide de camp.^[9]

Supranational

•  European Union — called for scrapping the proposed constitutional amendment. It added that the measure could jeopardise Burkina Faso's stability.^[2]
•  United Nations — Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's special envoy for West Africa, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, was scheduled to fly to Burkina Faso the next day to try and mediate the crisis.^[12]

States

•  France — The European Union statement was echoed,^[2] with an appeal for restraint from all sides. Local media reported that the French ambassador had met unnamed opposition leaders.^[6] It also "deplored" the violence.^[4] France is the former colonial power, which still hosts special forces troops in the country.^[6]
•  United States — Concern was raised over the proposed constitutional amendment.^[2] White House spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan issued a statement which said the United States was deeply concerned by the 30 October situation and called on all sides to cease the violence.^[6] The embassy in Ouagadougou issued a statement that asserted the United States was "deeply concerned" by the violence and that it had urged "all parties including the security forces" to seek peace.^[15]

Others

The Guardian said the events could be "a promising break with the trend set by various African rulers finding elasticity in constitutional limits, including Chad, Gabon, Guinea, Namibia, Togo and Uganda."^[1] The Christian Science Monitor cited unnamed people terming this an African Spring and that it could serve as a warning to leaders like Rwanda's Paul Kagame who are trying to abolish term limits.

Risk management firm Red24's Ryan Cummings said that "we saw this was a regime that was crumbling" citing Compaoré's loss of support within the military and his own party. He added that "Compaoré as much as he was vilified by the local population he was a key ally of the west… without him there’s no guarantee the status quo will persist. The country itself is quite key for regional stability…There’s going to be a void and that could catalyze a lot of extremist groups and this could see other countries being destabilised."^[5]

Template:Anti-government protests in the 21st century