Burkina loyalists rally after gunfire near presidency
by AFP Staff Writers
Ouagadougou (AFP) May 17, 2024

Hundreds of demonstrators rallied in Burkina Faso's capital Friday in support of the country's military rulers after gunfire was reported near the presidency, AFP reporters said.

Demonstrators gathered at a roundabout in central Ouagadougou, vowing to protect the rule of President Ibrahim Traore.

Earlier in the afternoon, "there were shots fired near the presidential palace", said one demonstrator, Moussa Sawadogo.

"We do not know what is going on but we are there to stop anything from happening."

Burkina Faso news agency AIB reported that an individual had tried to attack a guard at the palace but there were no injuries or damage.

Security forces closed off access to the area around the palace, AFP reporters saw.

The landlocked West African nation has been run by a military regime since mutinying soldiers deposed elected president Roch Marc Christian Kabore in 2022.

Junta leader Traore then seized power in another coup on September 30, 2022.

He established a transitional government and legislative assembly for 21 months, a period set to expire on July 1.

National consultations on the next steps in the transition to civilian rule are scheduled for May 25 to 26.

Since 2015, Burkina's forces have been struggling to combat jihadist insurgencies that have killed thousands of people and forced around two million from their homes -- violence that the army's leaders used to justify their coups.

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