Protesters have attacked the French Embassy in Burkina Faso's capital after supporters of the West African nation's new coup leader accused France of harboring the ousted interim president, a charge French authorities denied.
Video on social media showed residents with lit torches outside the perimeter of the French embassy and other images showed part of the compound ablaze.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the violence against our diplomatic presence in Burkina Faso,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement late Saturday. “Any attack on our diplomatic facilities is unacceptable.” He later told Radio Omega: “We have no intention to bring Damiba to justice. We only wish that he would go rest because he is tired, and as for us we are going to continue to do the work.”
The African Union and the West African region bloc known as ECOWAS also sharply criticized the developments. The new junta leadership said it would commit “all fighting forces to refocus on the security issue and the restoration of the integrity of our territory.” “Damiba was leaning toward France, but we might see the MPSR more actively exploring alternative from now on, with Turkey or Russia for example,” Gouvy added.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Soldiers remove Burkina junta leader from officeBurkina Faso army Captain Ibrahim Traore has ousted military leader Paul-Henri Damiba and dissolved the government and constitution
Read more »
Shots heard near Burkina Faso presidency, military headquartersShots have been heard around Burkina Faso's presidential palace and the headquarters of its military junta, which seized power in a coup last January
Read more »
Army officers appear on state TV in Burkina Faso to declare new coupSoldiers seized control of Burkina Faso's state television late Friday, declaring that the country's coup leader-turned-president, Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, had been overthrown after only nine months in power.
Read more »
Army Officers Appear on Burkina Faso TV, Declare New CoupMore than a dozen soldiers seized control of Burkina Faso’s state television late Friday, declaring that the country’s coup leader-turned-president, Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, had been overthrown after only nine months in power.
Read more »
Coup in Burkina Faso ousts previous coup leaderLt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba had just returned from addressing the U.N. General Assembly in New York as Burkina Faso’s head of state. Tensions, though, had been mounting for months. In…
Read more »