The Latest Breaking News from Ouagadougou

Calm returned to Burkina Faso's capital on Monday after the country's military leader fled to neighbouring Togo following the second coup in less than nine months. His replacement, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has promised that a new civilian or military transitional president will be appointed "before the end of the year".

Children in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou returned to school on Monday for the start of the new academic year, as residents sought some semblance of normality days after the country's second military coup this year.

Burkina Faso's self-declared new leader Ibrahim Traore said gunfire in the capital Ouagadougou on Saturday was part of a counter-offensive staged by ousted President Paul-Henri Damiba.

Armed soldiers in fatigues and masks appeared on television in Burkina Faso on Friday night to confirm the ouster of President Paul-Henri Damiba, the second coup in the troubled West African country this year.

Events in Ouagadougou bear hallmark of other recent power grabs across region

Soldiers seen along the main avenue in Ouagadougou leading to the presidential palace and national television station.

In tonight's edition: Anti-Rwanda protests hit Congolese cities, accusing Kigali of backing the M23 rebel group. Two Rwandan soldiers have however been released in peace talks mediated by Angola. Also, hundreds of Sudanese protesters have demanded the dismissal of the United Nations mission chief, who is working to resolve a…

The last time rebellious soldiers attempted to overthrow Burkina Faso's government in 2015, Marcel Tankoano was among thousands of protesters who took to the streets to oust the junta. Within days, loyalist forces had restored the president to power.

The African Union has suspended Burkina Faso from all its activities in response to last week's military coup, effective until constitutional order is restored, the AU said on Monday.