Burkina Faso’s military junta stated on Wednesday that a coup attempt had been foiled the day before by security and intelligence services, but did not elaborate.
According to a statement, officers and others had “plotted” to destabilize the country with “the dark intention of attacking the institutions of the Republic and plunging our country into chaos.”
The statement did not name any participants, but stated that four arrests had been made and that the search for two other participants were ongoing. “Investigations will help unmask the instigators of this plot.”
On Monday, the junta suspended the French news magazine Jeune Afrique for publishing “untruthful” articles about conflicts and dissatisfaction inside Burkina Faso’s armed forces. The following day, thousands of pro-junta demonstrators came to the streets of Ouagadougou and other cities to show their support.
Burkina Faso and its neighbors have been plagued over the past few years by armed groups linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic state. This destabilization has been cited as a contributing factor in the two military coups last year that led to the current military junta taking power