Burkina Faso coup: How democracy crumbled under jihadi stress
The day after volleys of gunshots ringing through the streets of the capital last Monday signaled the ousting of Burkina Faso’s democratically elected president, 21-year-old Ibrahim joined thousands cheering in the streets.
“With the former regime, there was no peace, but now our hope lies with the putschists,” the high school student said, as he raised a fist and posed beside an image of a soldier on a mural in the Place de la Nation in central Ouagadougou.
His enthusiasm for the military coup reflects broader discontent in West African countries with civilian leaders who have proved unable to curb swelling Islamist violence, and who respond to criticism and protests by shutting down the internet and using tear gas.
“There is a profound disillusionment
