Burkina Faso’s neighbouring countries have condemned what they label an attempted coup in the country.
The whereabouts of President Roch Kaboré is unknown amid conflicting reports on whether he has been put in detention by dissident forces.
Gunshots were heard overnight around the presidential palace and at barracks in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso.
The mutinying troops have requested the sacking of military chiefs and extra resources to combat Islamist militants.
Kaboré has not been seen in public since the advent of the crisis but two tweets have appeared on his Twitter handle.
The latest tweet admonishes “those who have taken up arms to lay them down in the higher interest of the nation”, while the earlier tweet congratulates the national football team on their win in their last Africa Cup of Nations match.
While condemning the coup in a strongly worded statement, ECOWAS said it “holds the military responsible for the physical wellbeing” of the president.
“ECOWAS is following with great concern the evolution of the political and security situation in Burkina Faso, characterised since Sunday 23 January by an attempted coup d’etat
“ECOWAS condemns this extremely grave act.”
Video from the capital showed armoured vehicles – reportedly used by the presidency – sprayed with bullet holes and left in the street.
Mobile internet services have been affected, though fixed-line internet and domestic wi-fi are still working.
Also, Soldiers have rounded up the state television headquarters and there was no live programming recently.
