http://themilitant.com/2015/7935/793558.html
The Militant (logo)
Vol. 79/No. 35 October 5, 2015
Special forces coup comes apart in Burkina Faso
BY MICHEL PRAIRIE
A coup led by a small, specialized military unit and some civilian
supporters of former President Blaise Compaoré in the West African
country of Burkina Faso came apart after one week as the previous
government was restored. The coup was met with sustained nationwide
protests involving thousands and received no backing from imperialist
powers, regional governments, the rest of the military or other
bourgeois forces.
On Sept. 16 members of the Presidential Security Regiment stormed a
meeting of the Council of Ministers and arrested interim President
Michel Kafando and interim Prime Minister Isaac Zida. The next morning
regiment leaders announced they had dissolved the interim government put
in place last year following huge mobilizations across the country that
toppled Compaoré. He seized power in a 1987 coup that killed President
Thomas Sankara, central leader of the 1983-87 popular democratic
revolution in the country.
Leaders of the country’s regular army told the regiment to disarm and
stand down as troops began to march on Ouagadougou, the capital.
On Sept. 23 coup leader Gen. Gilbert Diendere signed a deal brokered by
leaders of the Economic Community of West African States. The Kafando
government is restored; Diendere stands down, but is guaranteed amnesty
along with his soldiers and their families; and the army withdraws from
the capital.
Burkina Faso is among the poorest nations in the world. Gains made by
the Sankara-led revolution were reversed by Compaoré’s regime in order
to attract foreign capitalist investments in gold mining and cotton
production. Over 27 years in power, it became one of imperialism’s
strongest allies in the region.
It is unclear whether presidential and legislative elections that were
scheduled for Oct. 11 will occur.
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home