Heavy gunfire reported at Burkina Faso military base

Witnesses are reporting heavy gunfire at a military base in Burkina Faso's capital raising fears that a coup attempt is underway

Burkina Faso Violence (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Heavy gunfire rang out at a military base in Burkina Faso's capital early Sunday, prompting fears that a coup attempt was underway after weeks of growing frustration with the government's handling of the Islamic insurgency wracking the country.

The government put out a statement acknowledging gunfire in army barracks but denying an army takeover of the country. President Roch Marc Christian Kabore has not been detained, according to Defense Minister Aime Barthelemy Simpore.

The gunfire comes a day after protesters demanded his resignation at a demonstration in Ouagadougou Kabore has faced growing opposition since his reelection in November 2020. He fired his prime minister and replaced most of the Cabinet last month.

Violence in the once peaceful West African nation is escalating as attacks linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group increase. Thousands have died in recent years and around 1.5 million people have been displaced.