Ouagadougou, April 18: Mutinous soldiers in Burkina Faso have taken control of the southern town of Po as the revolt against the government of President Blaise Compaore intensifies.
A group of soldiers in Po started firing in the air overnight Sunday and seized the town, which is about 140 kilometers (90 miles) from the capital Ouagadougou, AFP reported.
The soldiers have forced all people to stay indoors and taken the cars of those who dared to drive in the streets, a town resident said.
The military has dispatched a delegation to hold negotiations with the mutinous soldiers.
Protests kicked off on Thursday when soldiers from two barracks in Ouagadougou mutinied, walking in the streets and firing shots in the air. They also looted shops and attacked people’s cars.
In response, vendors set fire to some government buildings including the headquarters of the ruling party.
Soldiers of the presidential guard were also among the mutineers at first but later backed down when they reportedly got their housing allowances.
President Compaore has confronted anti-government protests especially by young people since February. In an effort to quell the demonstrations, he sacked his cabinet on Friday but the soldiers, along with tens of thousands of civilians have said this measure is not enough and the government must provide better living conditions.
Burkinabe authorities have imposed a curfew in Ouagadougou where at least 45 people have reportedly been injured during clashes with security forces.
——–Agencies