On 15 January 2016 at 19:30, according to Communications Minister Remi Dandjinou, six or seven turbaned gunmen, reportedly arrived in four-wheel drive cars and burnt ten vehicles.
They attacked the Cappuccino restaurant, which had about 100 guests, according to RTB, and then took hostages at the 147-room four-star Splendid Hotel in the heart of Ouagadougou on Avenue Kwame Nkrumah.
Both places are frequented by businessmen and foreigners.
A dinner of the ASECNA, which was attended by 200 people, was taking place in the hotel.
Some of the perpetrators arrived at the hotel during the day and mingled with guests, while others joined them after nightfall.
As Ouagadougou Airport is about 1.5 kilometres (0.9 miles) away from the attack site, Air France and Turkish Airlines flights were diverted to Niamey, Niger.

Foreign Minister Alpha Barry said: "We know that there are victims and there are hostages.
Currently the area is blocked by security forces waiting for an assault to free the hostages."
According to the head of the city's main hospital there were 20 confirmed deaths, while an unnamed Cappuccino staff member said several people had been killed at the restaurant.
At least 20 people were wounded.
Robert Sangare, director of Ouagadougou's university hospital centre, said that one European woman being treated at the hospital had said that the perpetrators appeared to target white people.
About 10 ambulances were used to ferry the wounded to the hospital through the night.
On 15 January 2016 at 19:30, according to Communications Minister Remi Dandjinou, six or seven turbaned gunmen, reportedly arrived in four-wheel drive cars and burnt ten vehicles. They attacked the Cappuccino restaurant, which had about 100 guests, according to RTB, and then took hostages at the 147-room four-star Splendid Hotel in the heart of Ouagadougou on Avenue Kwame Nkrumah. Both places are frequented by businessmen and foreigners. A dinner of the ASECNA, which was attended by 200 people, was taking place in the hotel. Some of the perpetrators arrived at the hotel during the day and mingled with guests, while others joined them after nightfall. As Ouagadougou Airport is about 1.5 kilometres (0.9 miles) away from the attack site, Air France and Turkish Airlines flights were diverted to Niamey, Niger.
Foreign Minister Alpha Barry said: "We know that there are victims and there are hostages. Currently the area is blocked by security forces waiting for an assault to free the hostages." According to the head of the city's main hospital there were 20 confirmed deaths, while an unnamed Cappuccino staff member said several people had been killed at the restaurant. At least 20 people were wounded. Robert Sangare, director of Ouagadougou's university hospital centre, said that one European woman being treated at the hospital had said that the perpetrators appeared to target white people. About 10 ambulances were used to ferry the wounded to the hospital through the night.
2016 Ouagadougou attacks