Issac Yacouba Zida

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.