Burkina Faso President Roch Kabore Detained at Military Camp – Sources

Burkina Faso President Roch Kabore has been detained at a military camp by mutinying soldiers following heavy gunfire around his residence in the capital Ouagadougou.

Reuters reports Kabore’s detention comes after sustained gunfire rang out from military camps in the West African country throughout Sunday, with soldiers demanding more support for their fight against militants.

The government had denied that the army had seized power.

Kabore’s exact whereabouts or situation were unknown on Monday morning, with conflicting reports circulating among security and diplomatic sources.

Government sources could not immediately be reached on Monday.

Frustration has risen in Burkina Faso in recent months due to the frequent killing of civilians and soldiers by militants, some of whom have links to Islamic State and al Qaeda.

The turmoil in Burkina Faso comes after successful military putsches over the past 18 months in Mali and Guinea, where the army removed President Alpha Conde last September.

Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in West Africa despite being a gold producer.

The upheaval underscores the political consequences of the growing insurgency across the Sahel region.