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.

– Jihadist attacks –

Since 2015, the impoverished West African country has been plagued by jihadist violence, which has claimed more than 2,000 lives and forced 1.5 million from their homes.

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

– Soldiers revolt –

On January 22, police in the capital Ouagadougou clash with demonstrators at a banned protest over the government’s handling of the jihadist threat.

The following day soldiers at several army barracks revolt.

On January 24, President Roch Marc Christian Kabore is arrested by mutinous soldiers after gunshots are heard near his private residence.

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– Coup –

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

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

– ’60 terrorists’ killed –

At the weekend, France — whose troops have been helping counter the Islamist insurgency — says 60 “terrorists have been taken out” in joint operations with Burkinabe troops between January 16 and 23, the day the coup began to brew.

On Monday the African Union suspends Burkina Faso “until 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 “the continuity of the state pending the establishment of transitional bodies”.