There is a possible coup d’etat underway in Burkina Faso, in western Africa.
There were reports of gunfire and helicopters yesterday coming from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. There were also some reports of heavy fighting near the presidential palace. Those responsible are described as unhappy soldiers mutinying to try to bring about a change, as the war against extremist Islamic terrorist organizations escalates.
According to numerous sources, it has been confirmed that Burkina Faso President Roch Kabore has been taken to a military camp by those soldiers. However, the government maintains the position that this is not a military coup.
Military coups and violent instability have been seen in numerous nations in western Africa in recent years.
See the links to this story below:
A popular uprising and soldier mutinies challenge Burkina Faso's president by the Associated Press, January 24, 2022 (Associated Press writers Krista Larson in Dakar, Senegal, and Arsene Kabore in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, contributed to this report):
https://www.npr.org/2022/01/24/1075259448/possible-coup-burkina-faso-president
Burkina Faso President Kabore detained at military camp, sources tell Reuters by Thiam Ndiaga, January 24, 2022:
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/burkina-faso-president-kabore-detained-military-camp-sources-tell-reuters-2022-01-24/
I've known a couple people from Burkina Faso, and some from other African countries. Every time there's yet another coup and/or outbreak of sectarian violence somewhere in Africa, it makes attaining some semblance of political and economic stability (let alone prosperity) even more elusive. And while the aftermath of colonialism certainly hasn't helped, nor does it fully explain why the outlook there is so unrelentingly bleak. The sheer scope of Africa's problems seems so overwhelming that I suspect even the most hopeful among us struggle to muster any sense of optimism regarding its prospects.
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