Burkina Faso Coup Attempt Foiled,Burkina Faso’s military junta has announced the thwarting of a coup attempt on September 26, 2023. The junta, led by Capt. Ibrahim Traore,disclosed that the attempt was prevented through the coordinated efforts of Burkina Faso’s intelligence and security services. While specific details of the thwarted coup were not provided, the junta confirmed that several individuals, including officers, involved in this destabilization attempt have been arrested, with ongoing efforts to apprehend others.
The junta further asserted that the alleged perpetrators of the coup had intentions to attack the country’s institutions and plunge Burkina Faso into chaos. This incident marks the second coup in Burkina Faso in less than a year, with Capt. Ibrahim Traore seizing power on September 30, 2022, primarily driven by discontent over the government’s inability to quell a jihadist insurgency that originated from neighboring Mali in 2015.
In response to rumors of the coup on social media, thousands of people took to the streets of the capital, Ouagadougou, in support of Capt. Traore. The military government has expressed its commitment to thoroughly investigate the plot, expressing regret that officers who are sworn to defend the nation were involved in activities aimed at hindering Burkina Faso’s progress towards sovereignty and liberation from terrorist threats.
Another Military Coup Hits Africa Amidst Political Tension in the Continent
This incident follows earlier reports of military unrest in Burkina Faso, where three soldiers were arrested and charged with plotting against the ruling junta. The individuals in question were accused of scouting out locations used by key figures in the junta, including Capt. Traore, with the goal of destabilizing the transition period before promised elections.
Burkina Faso has been grappling with a severe jihadist insurgency, resulting in the loss of more than 17,000 lives, including civilians and troops, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED). Additionally, over two million people have been displaced internally, contributing to one of Africa’s most significant internal displacement crises.
The country’s armed forces have been a focal point of instability, with a coup in January 2022 ousting the elected president, Roch Marc Christian Kabore. Subsequently, Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba overthrew Kabore on September 30, 2022. Despite government claims of regaining territory, jihadist attacks persist, posing ongoing challenges to the nation’s security and stability.
VOTP News will continue to monitor this situation closely and provide updates as more information becomes available.
Burkina Faso Coup Attempt
