OUAGADOUGOU: A military junta took power in Burkina Faso after soldiers arrested the interim president and prime minister and disbanded the transitional government, four weeks before elections that were to return the West African nation to democracy.

The National Council for Democracy announced on national television Thursday that it had seized control of Africa’s fourth-biggest gold producer. It’s being led by Gen. Gilbert Diendere, the army chief of staff under ex-President Blaise Compaore, who was swept from power last year after mass protests against an attempt to extend his almost three-decade rule, Ouagadougou-based Radio Omega reported.

The military takeover started Wednesday when soldiers belonging to Compaore’s former presidential guard barged into a Cabinet meeting and detained interim leader Michel Kafando, premier Isaac Zida and two ministers, according to a statement from Cherif Sy, the head of the transitional council. Gunfire echoed through the capital, Ouagadougou, while troops patrolled the streets.

The coup may embolden other leaders facing elections in west and central Africa to try to remain in office, said Cailin Birch, an analyst with the Economist Intelligence Unit in London. Ivory Coast, Guinea and the Central African Republic are scheduled to hold elections in the next two months.

“Burkina Faso was a positive example of civil society prompting change at the top of the state,” she said. “This reversal has worrying implications for other countries on the brink of national elections.”