The government of Burkina Faso has issued a statement revealing the prevention of a plot aimed at destabilizing the nation. According to the government’s communication, a network involving active-duty military personnel discharged soldiers, and civilians had allegedly planned to target the country’s institutions. The transitional government disclosed the details of this scenario, asserting that external support had been identified.
As per the official statement signed by the spokesperson of the transitional government, the network members had reportedly set January 14th as the date for their planned actions. Individuals contacted in various military barracks across Burkina Faso were intended to organize a mutiny, serving as the starting point for the destabilization process.
Subsequently, civil society organizations would take over, creating disorder conducive to the intervention of an external commando. The alleged objective of this commando was to “threaten the lives of several authorities of the Transition and sow chaos,” as stated in the government’s release.
The government spokesperson affirmed that funds were in the process of being unlocked and transferred from abroad to fuel the operation. Multiple individuals, both military and civilian, implicated in this project have reportedly been apprehended. The government asserts that investigations are ongoing to uncover any potential additional involvement.
Since last Sunday, Lieutenant Colonel Evrard Somda, former Chief of Staff of the National Gendarmerie, Prosper Bassole, Chief of Staff to businessman Mahamadou Bonkoungou, and several other military personnel have been in custody. Notably, this marks the fourth reported attempt to overthrow the government by the current junta in its fifteen months in power.