Burkina Faso’s military leader attributes heavy gunfire to ‘mood swing’ of soldiers

Paul-Henri Damiba, Burkina Faso’s military president, says discussions are ongoing to restore calm following heavy gunfire that raised fears of a coup.

Damiba said this in a statement via the presidency’s Facebook account on Friday.

Earlier on Friday, TheCable had reported that heavy gunfire was heard from the main military base and some residential areas in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital.

A number of armed soldiers had also been positioned along the road leading to the presidential palace.

Military personnel were said to be restricting entry into administrative buildings and the national television station, which has now resulted in a halt on broadcast operations.

It has been unclear if the tension in Burkina Faso is stemming from a coup that is underway or from a mutiny among the soldiers.

However, in the statement issued on Friday, Damiba said the incident was the result of mood swings, adding that people should not panic over what they are reading on social media.

“The president of Faso, supreme chief of the national armed forces, lieutenant-colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, in view of the confused situation created as a result of a movement of mood by some elements of the national armed force this Friday 30th September 2022 in Ouagadougou, invites the population to observe utmost caution and to remain calm about certain information circulating especially on social media,” the statement reads.

“Negotiations are underway to bring back calm and serenity.