Burkina Faso's military, early on Thursday, confirmed a coup and declared dissolution of the country's transitional government. "We have put in place a national democracy council tasked with organising democratic and inclusive elections," an unidentified military official told the state run broadcaster, according to Reuters.
The military's announcement came a day after the country's presidential guards arrested Burkina Faso's interim president, Michel Kafando, interim prime minister, Yacouba Isaac Zida, and an unknown number of cabinet ministers, reported Associated Press.
The members of the Presidential Security Regiment (RSP), reportedly loyal to ousted President Blaise Compaoré, stormed into a cabinet meeting at the presidential palace on Wednesday afternoon and kidnapped leaders of country's transitional government.
"Members of Compaore's powerful Presidential Security Regiment (RSP) burst into the cabinet room at 2:30 p.m. and kidnapped the President of Burkina Faso Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Isaac Zida, and two ministers (Augustin Loada and Rene Bagoro)," interim parliament speaker Cheriff Sy said in a statement, according to AFP.
The United Nations chief, Ban Ki-moon, was outraged by reports of detention of Burkina Faso leaders.
"The Secretary-General is outraged by reports of the detention of President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac Zida of Burkina Faso, as well as a number of Ministers of State, by the Régiment de Sécurité Présidentielle today in Ouagadougou. The Secretary-General calls for their immediate release," a U.N. spokesman said in a statement on Wednesday.
The United States State Department has called for immediate release of arrested leaders.
"The United States strongly condemns any attempt to seize power through extra-constitutional means or resolve internal political disagreements using force," State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement, according to Reuters.
Burkina Faso is scheduled to hold an election on Oct. 11 to complete a transition back to democracy after long time ruler President Blaise Compaore was forced out last year.
"We don't know if the transitional president and prime minister are dead or alive" - journalist in #Burkina pic.twitter.com/opoJdqb7Wp
— AJE News (@AJENews) September 17, 2015
Confirmed: Officer on TV confirms #Burkina Faso coup. Announces dissolution of government and CNT #lwili #RSP pic.twitter.com/2YpyRKiKC3 — Imad Mesdoua (@ImadMesdoua) September 17, 2015
