KU sociologist: Burkina Faso coup spells trouble for civil society in Africa

LAWRENCE — A University of Kansas sociologist who studies civil society and social change in Africa and has worked as a journalist in Nigeria is available to comment on the recent military coup in Burkina Faso.

According to international news reports, a close ally of former President Blaise Compaore is the country's new leader after the military seized the government earlier this week.

Ebenezer Obadare, a KU associate professor in the Department of Sociology, said the development in the West African nation would be disappointing to those who celebrated protests that ousted Compaore from power.

"Be that as it may, the coup's emergence spells further trouble for civil society and ordinary citizens in an already beleaguered country," Obadare said.

To arrange an interview with Obadare, contact George Diepenbrock at 785-864-8853 or gdiepenbrock@ku.edu.