Burkina Faso’s military government claims it thwarted another coup attempt

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Burkina Faso’s military government said Thursday it thwarted a “coup attempt” by a network of serving and retired security personnel, and civilians.

In a statement, government spokesman Jean-Emmanuel Ouedraogo said that “a coup attempt had been foiled on Jan. 14” and alleged coup plotters were arrested.

A network of “military personnel, some retired, some active and civilians conspired to destabilize the institutions of Burkina Faso,” he said, citing preliminary investigations.

The intervention of the “patriotic defense and security forces made it possible to thwart this project.”

Ouedraogo said to facilitate the coup plan, individuals had been contacted in various military barracks throughout the country to “organize a mutiny” while funding for the cause was being released and transferred from outside.

In September last year, the military government said that it thwarted a coup attempt by security and intelligence services.

The latest is the fourth coup attempt authorities have claimed to have foiled since Capt. Ibrahim Traore overthrew Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba in September 2022, who also came to power in a coup.

Damiba seized power in January 2022, after ousting then-elected President Roch Marc Christian Kabore.