On Wednesday, Burkina Faso’s military junta said that a group of rogue officers had prevented an attempted coup who planned to attack the presidential residence, an army barracks, and a prison in the capital, Ouagadougou. The junta said that some plotters had been arrested while others were being sought.
The junta, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, came to power in a coup on September 30 last year, after ousting the transitional government that was preparing for elections following the popular uprising that toppled longtime leader Blaise Compaoré in 2014. The junta has promised to hand over power to a civilian-led government after elections scheduled for November 7.
The coup plot was the latest sign of instability and division within the military, which has been struggling to contain a growing Islamist insurgency in the north and east of the country, as well as social unrest and economic hardship. The junta has also faced international pressure and sanctions from regional and global powers, who have called for a swift return to democracy.
According to the junta’s statement, the coup plotters included former members of the elite presidential guard (RSP), loyal to Compaoré, who disbanded after his overthrow. The RSP was also behind a failed coup in September 2015, which popular protests and loyalist troops thwarted.
The junta said that the coup plot was detected by the security and intelligence services, which had been monitoring the movements and communications of the suspects. It said that the plotters had intended to destabilize the country and plunge it into chaos but did not give any details on their motives or objectives.
The junta’s announcement came amid rumors of a mutiny within the army, which prompted hundreds of people to take to the streets of Ouagadougou on Tuesday to show their support for Traoré and his government. The junta thanked the people for their solidarity and urged them to remain calm and vigilant.
The junta also accused some media outlets of spreading false information and discrediting the armed forces. It said that it had suspended the French-language magazine Jeune Afrique for publishing “untruthful, defamatory and insulting” articles to the military.
Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a population of about 20 million people. It has been plagued by political turmoil and violence for decades, as well as poverty, corruption, and environmental challenges. The country is also part of a regional effort to combat Islamist militants linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State, who have launched attacks across the Sahel region south of the Sahara desert.
Burkina Faso’s people have shown remarkable resilience and courage in their quest for democracy and peace. They have also expressed their desire for change and development and respect for human rights and the rule of law. The upcoming elections offer a historic opportunity for Burkina Faso to overcome its challenges and achieve its aspirations.
Source: Bloomberg
