Burkina Faso Junta Says It foils ‘coup attempt’ against Traore

Burkina Faso’s military government said on Wednesday that it thwarted a coup attempt by security and intelligence services the previous day.

The transitional government informed the public “that a coup attempt was foiled on September 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 would 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.

Thanks, supporters

In a post on X Wednesday, junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traore thanked his supporters. He promised to lead the transitional government “safely, despite adversity and various manoeuvres to stop the march towards assumed sovereignty.”

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.

Burkina Faso is one of a growing list of West African countries where the military has taken power, accusing the elected governments of failing to keep their promises. Capt. Ibrahim Traore was named as the transitional president. However, since its inception, the junta has struggled to end Burkina Faso’s security challenges — the very reason that it said prompted it to take over power in September 2022.

Author: Mpheza Clara Manda

Luska, Zambia

Senior Correspondent