UPDATE - Burkina Faso says it foiled coup attempt

UPDATES WITH DETAILS ON ARRESTS, CHANGES DECK

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – Burkina Faso’s military government said Wednesday that it thwarted a coup attempt by security and intelligence services a day before.

The transitional government informed the public “that a coup attempt was foiled on Sept. 26, 2023 by the Burkinabe intelligence and security services.”

Officers and other individuals behind the attempt to destabilize the country have been arrested and the search for other perpetrators continues, the statement said.

The government assured that it will shed all light on the coup attempt.

Late Tuesday, hundreds of Burkinabe took to the streets of the capital Ouagadougou to show their support for the transitional government as claims of a mutiny spread.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday, junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traore thanked his supporters.

He promised to lead the transitional government “safely, despite adversity and various maneuvers to stop the march towards assumed sovereignty.”

Separately, Burkina Faso’s military prosecutor’s office said four military officers implicated in “a conspiracy against the security of the state” were arrested, while two are on the run.

A thorough investigation has been launched to shed more light on the foiled coup, it said.

The statement assured that the investigations would be conducted with strict respect for the rights of the suspects.

“In view of the recurrence of attempts and other allegations of destabilization, the military prosecutor’s office invites anyone who can provide information that could contribute to the establishment of the truth, to come forward and testify,” it added.

In September last year, Traore led a coup to become Burkina Faso’s new leader after ousting Paul Henri-Damiba, who had also come to power in January that year through a coup.