Friday, September 18, 2015

The coup in Burkina Faso and why Africa can't grow economically.

What is behind the coup in Burkina Faso?

  • 17 September 2015
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  • From the section Africa
A picture taken on September 17, 2015 shows a TV screen during the broadcast of the speech of Lieutenant-colonel Mamadou Bamba announcing that a new "National Democratic Council" had put an end "to the deviant regime of transition"Image copyrightAFP
Image captionLt-Col Mamadou Bamba announced the coup on national television on Thursday
The BBC's Lamine Konkobo looks at the issues behind the coup in Burkina Faso, where members of the presidential guard have overthrown the interim government.
A new president was due to be elected next month to replace long-serving ruler Blaise Compaore, who was ousted in a popular uprising last year.

Why has there been a coup?

Members of the presidential guard (RSP), set up by President Compaore, say they were unhappy with the new electoral law banning candidates linked to last year's bid to extend the president's time in office. It was that attempt which triggered his overthrow in October 2014. 
But what is really bothering the RSP is its future. Soldiers were worried that the election of a new president would spell the end of the unit.

What is the presidential guard?

The presidential guard is an elite unit of around 1,300 soldiers loyal to Mr Compaore. 
He set it up to ensure his own protection in the wake of the 1987 killing of his predecessor, and close ally, Thomas Sankara during a coup which led to Mr Compaore taking over. 
It is a well-trained and well-equipped group of soldiers who have often acted independently from the country's army, and this coup is not necessarily supported by the wider military.
The leaders of the army have remained silent so far.
Protesters chant slogans against the presidential guard in Ouagadougou, Burkina FasoImage copyrightReuters
Image captionProtests broke out in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, after the interim president and prime minister were arrested on Wednesday

Are people sympathetic to the cause of the presidential guard?

Most of the people who backed the overthrow of Mr Compaore were keen to see the presidential guard disbanded, but members of the CDP, the former ruling party, are more likely to be happy with what has happened.
They were concerned that they had been excluded from October's election because of their ties to the former president. 
They argued that the election should have been an inclusive process and the electorate allowed to decide who was fit to be the next president.
Blaise CompaoreImage copyrightAFP
Image captionBlaise Compaore was president of Burkina Faso from 1987 to 2014

Does the former president still have influence in Burkina Faso?

There are some who think that Mr Compaore, currently in exile in Ivory Coast, has quietly backed the coup and with the presidential guard in power, it could in theory pave the way for his return.
Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara was supported by Mr Compaore in his effort to take power after a disputed election, and he is thought to have been unhappy about the transitional arrangements.

What is ordinary life like for people in Burkina Faso?

Life is hard for many in Burkina Faso, one of the world's poorest countries. 
Many university graduates struggle to find work and often blame corruption for their difficulties.
They were hoping that the transition and a democratic election would lead to improvements, so the coup is a set-back for them.

Seven things about Burkina Faso:

Images of Thomas Sankara and Che GuevaraImage copyrightAFP
  • It is one of the world's poorest countries - its main export is cotton
  • A former French colony, it gained independence as Upper Volta in 1960
  • Capt Thomas Sankara seized power in 1983 and adopted radical left-wing policies - he is often referred to as "Africa's Che Guevara"
  • The anti-imperialist revolutionary renamed the country Burkina Faso, which translates as "land of honest men"
  • Mr Compaore took power in the coup that killed Mr Sankara, and ruled for 27 years, until he was ousted last year following street protests
  • People in Burkina Faso, known as Burkinabes, love riding motor scooters
  • It is renowned for its pan-African film festival, Fespaco, held every two years in Ouagadougou

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