Armed gangs, equipped with weapons trafficked largely from the United States, have for years tightened their grip on the capital and sought to topple Henry. Since he pledged to resign last month, they have called for a broader "revolution".

As the country gears up for celebrations on Saturday to mark 30 years of freedom and democracy, much of the enthusiasm and optimism of that period has subsided as Africa’s most developed economy faces a myriad of challenges.