A state of emergency in Burkina Faso

It was a deeply, deeply troubling and tense day here in Burkina.

After the relatively quiet day yesterday, conditions deteriorated rather quickly today. And as of this evening, a state of emergency has been declared across the country.....

Around 7:50am this morning I heard the sounds of very loud banging. I thought Isaak was outside closing the gate, but when I went into the living room and saw him standing there, I realized it was coming from somewhere else.

We went outside and heard the roar of the crowd around the corner from our house.

Isaak went out to do a quick perimeter check and said that our neighborhood was barricaded in.

The sounds grew louder and louder as did the crowd.

The National Assembly building where the vote was to take place this morning is just down the road from us. Thousands of people were gathered there trying everything in their power to derail the vote from taking place.

(photo courtesy news.aouaga.com)

Me and Isaak were standing outside our gate intermittently and listening to the commotion.
We could actually hear the police firing tear gas into the crowds to try to push them back.

People were rushing up and down our street and our side streets covering their faces trying to get away...but then would circle back around to return to the activity and continue putting pressure on the police.

Outside my gate looking to the left....

Looking to my right....

Eventually the crowd was successful in breaching the police barricade and stormed the National Assembly building, looting it and setting it on fire.

(photo courtesy news.aouaga.com)

(photo courtesy BBC)

We were outside when that happened and could tell immediately that something significant had just occurred.

The roar of the crowd was very intense.

Chanting, shouting, cheering...followed by screaming as the police started shooting back with live ammunition into the crowds.

A huge mob started rushing down our side street. A man walked passed us and I asked him if he was okay, he said yes, and said that the National Assembly was on fire.

 A few minutes later the smoke began to rise over the trees near our house.

 (photo courtesy BBC) 

Absolute chaos followed.

Violence broke out.
People starting fighting the police and military.
Gunfire was heard all around.
Small explosions.
The crowd looted and burned down the Azalai Hotel down the street from our home, next to the National Assembly building.
They started burning cars, and police motos.
They tried to infiltrate the Prime Minister house, also on that same street, but were unsuccessful.
They marched to the national radio and television headquarters and stormed the building, looting, forcing them off air.
A large crowd started making its way to Ouaga 2000, an area south of town by about 8 miles where the U.S. Embassy and the Presidential Palace are located within about two blocks from each other.
The crowd was determined to storm the presidential palace.
Ouaga 2000 was quickly fortified with military tanks, barricades and perimeters set up.
When the crowds arrived they clashed with the military and police.
Lots of gunfire erupting through the streets.
Some people killed and wounded.
Downtown many people began ransacking and setting fire to some government officials homes.
The president has fled.
The airport is shut down and there are no incoming or outgoing flights.
A state of emergency was declared.
The military is now in charge, but the president has yet to officially step down.
There is a curfew in place, but people are resisting it, causing further confrontations with police.
Looting has been rampant.
Guards and security have disappeared and people are going from boutique to boutique pillaging stores and setting them on fire.

It's just so surreal. All of this. To be in the middle of something so strong. So extreme.
To be in the midst of it. Hearing it. Witnessing it.
I have never, ever experienced anything like this in my life.
The stress of it all is very intense.
So much chaos.

Isaak is at the embassy. He drove there on his motorcycle this afternoon; he had to go to work. But due to the deteriorating conditions throughout the day the Embassy is not allowing anyone to leave.
So he's stuck sleeping there tonight.
Me and the kids are riding solo at home until tomorrow.
I feel safe, we are safe, just feeling very vulnerable. We are under lockdown at the house until further notice. I am holding up okay, just very weary, and tense, from the emotional toll of it all.
The situation here is very serious.
It's midnight and I can still hear booming every few minutes, but it is finally getting quieter.
It's unknown how long these conditions will continue.

Just, praying that peace and stability will be restored soon.

Resting in Jesus. Resting in Jesus and taking hold of His peace. Taking refuge in His shadow and choosing to place my trust in Him.

*the BBC and France24 have been covering the breaking news of today*