Burkina Faso’s military junta has confirmed that a counter-coup will be foiled on September 26, 2023.
According to a government official in a statement dated September 27, 2023, a number of officers are currently under investigation by the prosecutor for their actions in the failed effort.
Hundreds Flood Ouagadougou Streets Amidst Junta Rumors
Reports suggest that Ouagadougou witnessed an influx of people on Tuesday evening, partaking in what appeared to be a pro-junta demonstration. This gathering was allegedly sparked by rumors of an internal coup within Colonel Ibrahim Traore’s junta leadership.
While some media outlets have asserted that the coup was orchestrated by individuals within the junta, GhanaWeb has been unable to independently verify these claims.
Videos and photos obtained by GhanaWeb depict a gathering predominantly composed of men, with fewer women and children, congregating at a roundabout in Ouagadougou. Some were heard chanting slogans, while others sang, and a few simply observed.
Burkina Faso is one of four West African nations to have experienced coups in recent years. The first involved the removal of Christian Roch Marc Kabore from office in 2022 by then-junta leader Sandaogo Damiba, who, six months later, was also ousted by the Ibrahim Traore-led junta.
Persistent insecurity has been a significant catalyst for these coups, with the wave of violence showing no signs of abating under Traore’s leadership.
Currently, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, all under junta rule, are part of an alliance of Sahel Nations striving to counter the escalating threat of terrorist violence in the region.