Burkina Faso: Senior Officers Arrested Over Alleged Plot to Destabilize Transitional Government

Several senior officers of the Burkinabe army have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a plot to destabilize the country’s transitional regime. Among those detained are Magistrate Commander Frédéric Ouédraogo and Captain Élysée Tassembédo. Two additional officers from the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) are also in custody in connection with the case.

Security sources report that the officers were approached by the former Director General of SONABHY, who is currently living in exile, with a plan aimed at creating unrest within the national security services.

Reports indicate that Burkinabe exiles residing in Côte d’Ivoire were informed of the operation. Some reportedly reacted on social media, posting statements such as “today is today” and proclaiming “a new era for Burkina Faso,” with others suggesting that exiled political figures could soon return to the country.

Investigations are ongoing, and authorities suggest more arrests may follow as communications continue to be monitored.

Former Foreign Minister Djibril Bassolé and Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, a former leader of the transitional government, have also been named among those implicated in the alleged plot. According to sources, they are suspected of collaborating with foreign intelligence networks to recruit both military personnel and civilians in efforts to destabilize the country.

This incident echoes past attempts to disrupt national stability and highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the transitional government. It also underscores the call for heightened vigilance among citizens.

Editor’s Note: There are growing calls among the public for stricter penalties for those involved in such acts, including a renewed debate over the reintroduction of the death penalty as a deterrent. The sentiment is clear: the people demand accountability and strong action against betrayal.

— The Voice of the AES