'We thought democracy would prevail', Burkina Faso resident tells euronews
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General Diendéré, former right-hand man of ousted President Blaise Compaoré, has seized power following a military coup in Burkina Faso.
It was going to be a big step forward for democracy in Africa. Yet the armed forces are proving the opposite. A few Kalashnikovs and weapons are all that's needed.
The takeover comes less than a month before scheduled elections, aimed at restoring democracy in the west African nation.
There are reports of rising tensions on the streets, as one French national in the capital Ouagadougou outlined to euronews.
“The situation is tense. There are armed forces all over the town. They’re firing their weapons and generally seeking to scare people. They’re trying to prevent any type of protest, so that General Diendéré can take power as they announced earlier.
“But I don’t think the civilian population in Burkina Faso agrees and so, what we’re worried about, is that the demonstrators won’t let go and we’ll find there are people who will protest unarmed against the armed forces. Protesters who are in the town at the moment have told me that ten people have already been killed.
“Some people are calling for demonstrations, others say it would be better to stay at home, so as not to be crushed straight away.
“We were just weeks away from an election and we thought that, with the people’s uprising and everything that has happened, democracy would prevail. It was going to be a big step forward for democracy in Africa. Yet they’re (the armed forces) proving the opposite. A few Kalashnikovs and weapons are all that’s needed.”