Brahima Ouedraogo

Gunfire erupted outside the headquarters of state television in Burkina Faso on Sunday as an opposition politician tried to announce she was in control of the West African country, days after the longtime president was forced out.

Lt. Col. Isaac Yacouba Zida was unanimously appointed by the army to lead Burkina Faso, the army said in a declaration.

Burkina Faso’s former president fled to neighboring Ivory Coast with his family after violent protests drove him from power after 27 years in office, Ivory Coast said Saturday, as a largely unknown military colonel said he had taken the helm.

A largely unknown military colonel emerged early Saturday to say he had taken the helm of Burkina Faso, hours after an army general had made a similar declaration following the ouster of the country’s president of 27 years.

The president of Burkina Faso stepped down Friday after protesters stormed parliament and set the building ablaze, ending the 27-year reign of one of Africa’s longest-serving rulers who had survived previous attempts to topple him.

Anti-government protesters gathered again Friday morning in Burkina Faso’s capital.

Burkina Faso’s leader of nearly three decades declared astate of emergency Thursday, hours after protesters who oppose his bid for another term stormed the parliament and set part of it on fire, marking the greatest threat to his rule since he himself seized power in a coup.