We're stepping away from events in Burkina Faso to focus on news from other parts of the continent.

But before we go, here is a recap of some of the key developments:

• Gunfire rang out early on Friday in the capital Ouagadougou amid reports of a possible coup attempt
• Burkina Faso state TV was taken off air
• Witnesses reported heavy military presence around the capital
• A government source told the BBC soldiers were involved in a mutiny
• Burkina Faso's leader urged people to keep calm and said talks were under way to resolve the situation

We will bring you the latest on any major developments.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

On Friday, several young people took to the streets of the Burkinabè capital, Ouagadougou, following reports of gunfire in the early hours, the privately-owned Wakat Sera website reported.

"Youths, claiming to be members of some civil society movements, on Friday 30 September, stormed some of the streets of the capital of Burkina Faso, calling for a 'massive mobilisation for the total liberation of the national territory'," the report said.

It added that the demonstrators said that a "full-blown coup d'etat" had taken place, and demanded the release of Lt-Col Emmanuel Zoungrana, who has been detained since the time of ousted President Roch Kabore's rule.

The BBC has not been able to independently confirm that there was a coup attempt but a government official, speaking anonymously, told us that a mutiny had taken place.

The report also said youths on motorcycles were seen carrying Burkinabè and Russian flags.

On Thursday, hundreds of people held a protest in the western city of Bobo Dioulasso, to demand the resignation of interim President Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba.

The protesters were blaming him for the chaotic management of the security situation in the country - which is facing a jihadist insurgency.

A mutiny that took place on 23 January was linked to the detention of Lt-Col Zoungrana.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

A graduation ceremony of gendarmerie trainees that was to be held today has been postponed, a local news site NetAfrique reports.

"The 48th promotion of the national school of non-commissioned officers of the gendarmerie initially scheduled to be held this Friday, 30 September 2022, has been postponed to a later date," a statement said.

Officials apologised for the inconvenience saying the decision was based on circumstances "beyond its control".

Image source, AFP

The AFP news agency has filed some pictures of the scenes earlier today in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou.

They appear to show soldiers guarding different parts of the city.

Image source, AFP

Image source, AFP

Burkina Faso government spokesman Lionel Bilgo has told the AFP news agency that the country is facing an "internal crisis in the army".

"Talks are continuing to try to reach a settlement without trouble," Mr Bilgo continued.

The Reuters news agency is reporting that fresh gunfire has been heard near Burkina Faso's presidential palace, amid reports of either a mutiny or an attempted coup.

Earlier this morning there were reports of gunfire and a large blast around the same area.

The country's military ruler, Lt-Col Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba has urged people to remain calm.

Burkina Faso has had a series of coups in the not-too-distant past, with a total of nine in its history - only three African countries have had more.

There are reports that the current unrest in the capital might be a coup attempt, although a government source told the BBC it was a mutiny.

The last coup was in January 2022, when Lt Col Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba took over from former President Roch Kaboré amid concerns in the country about a jihadist insurgency.

Despite West Africa's security and political volatility, Burkina Faso had, in the past, enjoyed a fragile stability.

Of late, there has been a wave of coups in West Africa, including in Mali and Guinea, as the region battles Islamist violence.

Read more: Which African countries have had the most coups?

A statement has been posted, external on the official Facebook page of the presidency of Burkina Faso, in which the country's leader Lt Col Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba urges the population to "stay calm and be careful" amid reports of gunfire and a heavy military presence in the capital.

There are reports that a coup may be taking place, but a government source, who wished to remain anonymous, told the BBC some soldiers had mutinied.

Lt Col Damiba also said people should not panic over what they are reading on social media.

"Talks are under way to restore calm and serenity," amid a "confused" situation caused by certain elements of the army, the statement said.

"The enemy attacking our country only wants division between Burkinabès to accomplish its destabilisation action", it continued.

Burkina Faso's military junta seized power in January saying it was going to deal with the threat from Islamist militants - but the violence hasn't stopped. This month has seen at least two deadly attacks:

• On Monday, 11 soldiers were killed after a supply convoy escorted by the army travelling to the northern town of Djibo, was targeted in a suspected militant ambush.
• On 5 September, at least 35 civilians were killed and 37 wounded after another convoy hit an improvised explosive device on a main road also leading to the north of the country.

Jihadists have even seized land and blockaded areas in the north of the country.

Groups allied to the Islamic State group and al-Qaeda operate in the Sahel.

The Sahel is a strip of semi-arid land beneath the Sahara Desert that stretches across the continent from east to west. It includes parts of Chad, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Mauritania.

The graph below shows the level of violence between September 2021 and June this year:

You can read more about Islamist violence in the Sahel here.

The recent unrest reported in Burkina Faso on Friday morning "smacks of a coup attempt" and if successful would mark the "sixth unconstitutional takeover in the Sahel in the past two years," Eric Humphery-Smith, Senior Africa Analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft says.

There have been recent coups in Guinea and Mali also.

"If it isn’t [a coup attempt], it’s still a damning indictment for the state of democracy in the region," Mr Humphrey-Smith continued.

"It’s hard for the Burkinabè junta to claim that it has delivered on its promise of improving the security situation, which was its pretext for the January coup," he added, citing recent violence in the north of the country, which "likely played a role" in what is happening on Friday.

If it is indeed a coup, it comes at a bad time for Burkina Faso's economy which could lead to "more punishing sanctions and trade disruption" in the country, he concluded.

Mayeni Jones
West Africa BBC correspondent

Following reports of gunfire and a heavy military presence in the capital of Burkina Faso this morning, a government source, who asked not to be named, has told the BBC that a mutiny is taking place and that the authorities are negotiating with the soldiers involved.

Foreign embassies in Burkina Faso are telling their citizens to stay safe amid unrest in the capital, and reports of a potential coup attempt.

Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted, external that there's shooting in Ouagadougou and that citizens should "stay inside". This message was retweeted by Denmark's ambassador to Burkina Faso.

Meanwhile the US embassy has advised citizens, external to avoid the area where there are reports of shooting "and monitor local media for updates".

After one report from a journalist in the region, external, saying state TV was back on air showing cotton farming, there are now reports it is back off air.

One analyst from risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft, Eric Humphery-Smith, says "the closure of the national television station bodes ill".

If you've just joined us, early on Friday morning there were reports suggesting that a coup may be taking place in Burkina Faso after gunfire was heard in the capital, Ouagadougou.

The BBC has not been able to independently verify whether this is the case, but this is what we know so far:

• Gunshots have been heard near the presidential palace
• Reuters news agency reported a large blast was also heard near the presidential palace
• The military has blocked access to major buildings, including the national assembly, the national broadcaster and the residence of the prime minister
• Burkina Faso state TV was taken off air, it is unclear if it is back on again
• Schools are closed and residents are staying indoors
• Eyewitnesses are reporting a heavy military presence around the city
• The country's leader Col Paul-Henri Damiba is in the capital and is doing well, according to a report from local media

A short video shared by the Africa News site shows armed soldiers and military vehicles blocking a road in the mostly empty street of the capital, Ouagadougou.

Image source, AFP

Lt Col Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba is the current leader of Burkina Faso after staging a coup against former president Roch Kaboré in January.

Trained by the US and France in warfare, he had been at the forefront of the country's fight against Islamist militants.

He even wrote a book on the subject last year called West African Armies and Terrorism: Uncertain Responses?

In the statement read on his behalf by the captain who announced the January coup, Lt Col Damiba cited the deteriorating security situation as the chief reason for overthrowing Mr Kaboré.

You can read more about him here.

Mayeni Jones
BBC West Africa correspondent

A coup attempt appears to be under way in Burkina Faso.

Gunshots have been heard near the presidential palace and access to major buildings, including the national assembly, the national broadcaster and the residence of the prime minister have been blocked by military vehicles.

It was only in January that the current head of state, Lt-Col Paul-Henri Damiba, ousted President Roch Kaboré through a coup.

The democratically elected president was deposed for failing to contain violence by Islamist militants. Now Lt-Col Damiba may be facing a similar fate.

On Thursday hundreds of protesters took to the streets of the western city of Bobo Dioulasso to demand his resignation, blaming him for the ongoing insecurity in the country.

Eyewitnesses are reporting a heavy military presence around the city.

Schools are closed and residents are staying indoors, waiting for updates on the latest news.

Since 2015, authorities in Burkina Faso has been struggling to contain attacks by insurgent groups.

On Monday, 11 soldiers were killed in a militant attack in the northern Soum province, 50 civilians were reported missing.

Programmes have resumed on Burkina Faso's national TV after broadcasting stopped amid reports of gunfire in the capital, Ouagadougou.

A journalist monitoring the coverage says the TV channel is showing a story about cotton farming and there are no reports of a suspected coup attempt.

Nicolas Negoce
BBC News

Many reports from local media in Burkina Faso and regional experts are pointing to a coup attempt.

Heavy gunfire was reported near the main military camp in the capital, Ouagadougou, and the state broadcaster, La Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina, has suspended transmission.

There has been confusion amid the gunfire at Baba Sy military barracks and there are reports of the state broadcaster building being surrounded by soldiers.

Current leader Lt-Col Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba seized power in a coup in January.

Last week, Lt-Col Damiba addressed the UN's General Assembly where he described January's coup as having been “an issue of survival” for the nation.

The Reuters news agency quotes witnesses as saying that a large blast was heard near Burkina Faso's presidential palace in the capital, Ouagadougou.

It comes amid previous reports of a heavy deployment of soldiers along the main roads leading to the presidency and the headquarters of the military junta.

The country's leader Lt-Col Paul-Henri Damiba is reported to be in the capital.