A statement has been posted on the official Facebook page of the presidency of Burkina Faso, in which the country’s leader Lt Col Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba urges the population to “stay calm and be careful” amid reports of gunfire and a heavy military presence in the capital.
There are reports that a coup may be taking place, but a government source, who wished to remain anonymous, told the BBC some soldiers had mutinied.
Lt Col Damiba also said people should not panic over what they are reading on social media.
“Talks are under way to restore calm and serenity,” amid a “confused” situation caused by certain elements of the army, the statement said.
“The enemy attacking our country only wants division between Burkinabès to accomplish its destabilisation action”, it continued.
Burkina Faso’s military junta seized power in January saying it was going to deal with the threat from Islamist militants – but the violence hasn’t stopped. This month has seen at least two deadly attacks:
On Monday, 11 soldiers were killed after a supply convoy escorted by the army travelling to the northern town of Djibo, was targeted in a suspected militant ambush.
On 5 September, at least 35 civilians were killed and 37 wounded after another convoy hit an improvised explosive device on a main road also leading to the north of the country.
