On Saturday, October 1, in the capital of Burkina Faso, rebels who support the self-proclaimed leader, army captain Ibrahim Traore, set fire to the territory of the French embassy.

They accuse France of supporting President Paul-Henri Damibou, who was ousted in a coup d'état.

As Reuters reports, representatives of the military junta appeared on state television and said that Damiba was hiding at a French army base, from where he was organizing a counterattack against the rebels.

France's foreign ministry issued a statement saying the base had never hosted Dhamiba, who also seized power in a coup d'état on January 24 this year.

However, hundreds of supporters of Traore gathered outside the French embassy on Saturday in protest.

Anti-French demonstrators also gathered and threw stones at the French Cultural Center in the southern town of Bobo Dioulasso.

In the evening, a fire broke out in the embassy, ​​several shots were heard. 

As evidenced by the published photos from the scene, some of the rioters who were near the diplomatic mission of France had the flag of the Russian Federation draped over their shoulders.

Photo: from social networks

Commenting on the coup d'état in Burkina Faso on Twitter, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleg Nikolenko said that the reason for the conflict in West African countries is the presence of Russian mercenaries.

"Disturbing reports of a new coup in Burkina Faso. The presence of Russian mercenaries in West Africa significantly undermines its peace and security. They should leave the region. We support the efforts of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African Countries - TSN.ua) in promoting Burkina's transition plan "Faso to democracy," he wrote.

Troubling reports of the new coup d'état in Burkina Faso.

The presence of Russia's mercenaries in West Africa significantly undermines its peace and security.

They must leave the region.

We support ECOWAS's efforts in advancing Burkina Faso's transition plan back to democracy.

— Oleg Nikolenko (@OlegNikolenko_) October 1, 2022

It will be recalled that the United Nations previously accused Russian mercenaries of killing civilians, looting houses and fatally shooting worshipers in mosques during military operations in the Central African Republic.

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