A helicopter, with its lights off, was also seen over President Roch Christian Kabore's neighbourhood as the gunfire -- initially heavy and then more sporadic -- was heard.

Heavy gunfire was also heard by residents around the same time in the Sangoule Lamizana and Baba Sy military camps in the capital.

Soldiers mutinied on Sunday in several barracks in across the country, including those of Sangoule Lamizan and Baba Sy, to demand the sacking of army chiefs and "adequate resources" to combat Islamist extremists in the country.

Throughout the day, demonstrators supported the mutineers and set up makeshift roadblocks in several avenues of the capital, before being dispersed by the police, according to AFP journalists.