Burkina Faso Coup: Life on the Ground

From Streets to Screens: A Coup Through Local Eyes

Burkina Faso’s January 24 military takeover sent shockwaves across West Africa. Soldiers ousted President Roch Kabore, closed borders, and dissolved the government—all in a day. But what’s life really like during a coup? Stringer Yuan Jianglei shares his story.

'The streets emptied like someone hit pause on a video game,' Yuan told us. Checkpoints popped up overnight, internet access flickered, and supermarkets saw panic-buying—especially for rice and fuel. Residents now face 30% price hikes for staples, with hospitals reporting medicine shortages.

But here’s the twist: Despite the chaos, some markets reopened within 48 hours. 'People adapt fast,' Yuan says. 'You see teens trading TikTok dance videos offline—like cultural resistance through memes.'

With borders still closed and regional ECOWAS leaders *urging calm*, Burkinabés wait for clarity. Will this coup follow Mali’s 2020 playbook? Stay tuned.

Reference(s):

Chinese talks about life after military coup in Burkina Faso

cgtn.com