Burkina Faso’s military rulers have claimed a coup attempt against them has been foiled by the country’s intelligence and security services. The military rulers claimed that army officers and others had planned to seize power and plunge the country into chaos. The latest coup attempt occurred on Tuesday, and the military government is seeking to shed all possible light on the plot. The military prosecutor said four people had been arrested and two were on the run. An investigation has been initiated due to “credible allegations” of a plot against state security, involving officers.
The military has taken control amid public discontent as armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS (ISIS) have launched a rebellion that has destabilised the country and its neighbours in West Africa’s Sahel region. Burkina Faso’s internal displacement crisis has resulted in over two million people being uprooted, making it one of the worst in Africa. Despite claims of government retaking regions, rebel attacks persist, with over 50 Burkinabe soldiers and volunteer fighters killed in clashes with rebels in early September.
