Following a coup attempt, Burkina Faso’s President, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, was reportedly captured and jailed by the military.
Heavy gunfire was reported outside the presidential palace in the city, Ouagadougou, on Sunday night, according to sources.
On Monday morning, the presidential armoured cars were seen covered in gunshots and with blood-soaked seats abandoned on the streets.
Protesters took to the streets on Sunday evening to show their support for the soldiers, and they even set fire to the offices of the ruling party.
The state television headquarters has been encircled by soldiers, and there has been no live broadcasting on Monday.
The President’s whereabouts are unknown at the moment, but other government ministers are at the capital’s Sangoule Lamizana barracks.
President Kaboré has not communicated since Sunday night, when he posted on social media praising the national football team on their victory in the African Cup of Nations match.
Since 2015, the country has been battling an Islamist insurgency that has spread from neighboring Mali.
This has inflamed military resentment and harmed the once-vibrant tourist business.
The latest crisis in Burkina Faso comes just a week after 11 soldiers were detained on suspicion of organizing a coup.
Since 2015, the military has expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s failure to defeat an Islamist insurgency.
This erupted after suspected Islamists killed 53 individuals, the majority of whom were members of the security services.
A list of requests provided by soldiers made no mention of attempting to depose Kaboré, instead requesting an enhanced anti-jihadist strategy as well as increased support for troops, the injured, and their families.
