The Burkinabè transitional government announced this Wednesday evening in a press release that a coup attempt was foiled yesterday. Several people involved in this attempt have been arrested and others are actively sought, according to the government spokesperson.
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The military junta, in power since last year in Burkina Faso, declared on Wednesday evening that it had foiled a putsch attempt carried out by members of the security forces and intelligence services the day before. In a statement, she said that several officers were arrested and that other suspects linked to this mutiny were being sought. Without further details at this stage.
#Burkina : Officers and other actors have been arrested, while others are on the run, after a “proven coup attempt”, which took place yesterday September 26, 2023…
The executive invites the population not to incriminate certain personalities. (communicated) pic.twitter.com/3nCe0k47lV
— Cryspin Laoundiki (@CLaoundiki) September 27, 2023
Demonstration in support of the junta
Persistent rumors in recent days of destabilization of the regime of Captain Ibrahim Traoré were at the origin of a night demonstration Tuesday evening in Ouagadougou, in support of Captain Ibrahim Traoré. Thousands of supporters of the junta leader occupied several points in the capital. Social networks relayed calls to demonstrate from the start of the evening, around 8 p.m. Accounts of supporters of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who generally serve as a sounding board for the junta’s communications, posted messages indicating an imminent coup attempt. They called for people to take to the streets to defeat this attempt.
As the evening progressed, more and more people gathered on the United Nations Square in the center of Ouagadougou. The crowd also occupied major intersections in the capital such as Place de la Nation and the Transition roundabout by erecting roadblocks to control vehicles.
A military chain of command not always respected
This mobilization comes the day after the ban on the distribution of the magazine Young Africa by the transitional authorities. The media published two articles which revealed “ mood swings in different military camps on the evening of September 20 » as well as tensions within the army. According to Young AfricaCaptain Traoré fears a putsch attempt as the first anniversary of his takeover approaches, on October 2.
According to several sources, the military’s mood follows the death of second lieutenant Zanga Moumouni Traoré, who fell in combat near Bobo-Dioulasso. With Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland, this former member of the special forces, respected in the army, went to defend his village attacked by jihadists, against the advice of his superiors who did not provide him with the necessary equipment. . The families of soldiers killed in combat also complain about the poor preservation of bodies before burial and the sobriety of funerals, now confined to the Sangoulé Lamizana camp in Ouagadougou.
For some time now, distrust has reigned in the army. Reports of attempted putsch, proven or not, are increasing. In one year, at least two conspiracy files have been investigated by military justice. Our sources denounce a “ capitalization of the army », the chain of command is not always respected. For example, the decision to send a contingent to Niger in the event of an attack while the influence of jihadists is expanding in the country, had not been validated by the reflection committee of the general staff. Critical voices are being raised more and more in the country in the face of the lack of results in the fight against terrorism and against the governance carried out by the putschists.