Burkina Faso Thwarts Coup Attempt, Detains Suspected Military Plotters
Burkina Faso has reported the detention of four military officers suspected of involvement in a conspiracy against state security, following the recent announcement that a coup attempt had been thwarted by the military government. According to military prosecutor Ahmed Ferdinand Sountoura, two other individuals are currently on the run in connection with the alleged coup plot.
Although the identities of the detained officers were not disclosed, security sources have indicated that at least two commanders of special units are among those arrested.
The military junta, which took control on September 30, 2022, following the country’s second coup in eight months, cited intelligence and security services in preventing the recent coup attempt. They have pledged to fully investigate the plot.
The developments come amid ongoing unrest in Burkina Faso, triggered in part by the country’s struggle to combat a jihadist insurgency. The military government has been facing various challenges, including internal discontent and attempts to destabilize the transitional period.
Despite these challenges, Captain Ibrahim Traore, the leader of the junta, has expressed his determination to lead the transition towards democracy, with presidential elections expected by July 2024.
Burkina Faso has been grappling with a protracted conflict that began in 2015 when Islamist militants entered the country from Mali. The conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life and displacement of civilians. In recent months, the country has entered into mutual defense agreements with Mali and Niger to address the security challenges in the Liptako-Gourma region, where the borders of these three countries converge and jihadist activity has been prevalent.
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