What You Need to Know
Burkina Faso experienced heightened security tensions on January 3-4, 2023, amid fears of a potential coup. Citizens protested in major cities, urging support for the military government. The situation escalated with military readiness and arrests of suspects linked to the former transitional president, accused of orchestrating the coup from abroad.
Africa. Burkina Faso experienced heightened security tensions on the night of January 3 to January 4, 2023, in the cities of Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso, amid fears of a potential coup.
Civilian vigilance groups supportive of the military government called for protests, leading hundreds of citizens to take to the streets to demonstrate against what they perceived as a threat to the stability of the transitional government.
In the capital, Ouagadougou, several military barracks were placed on high alert, amidst what security sources described as a “tense situation,” without providing further details. On the morning of January 4, there was an increased security presence in front of the Baba Sy military camp, according to local residents.
Meanwhile, pro-military media reported the arrest of several suspects, accusing former transitional president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba of attempting to orchestrate a coup from abroad in Togo, where he has been residing since his ousting in September 2022.
This comes in the context of previous arrests of soldiers in September for their alleged involvement in attacks on state security. Additionally, hundreds of supporters of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, known as the “Waiygnan,” occupied several public squares and roundabouts in the capital during the night, calling for the establishment of a stronghold to protect the government from any coup attempts.
Pro-Traoré social media pages issued late-night alerts warning of a conspiracy aimed at targeting soldiers close to him.
Burkina Faso has faced political instability in recent years, marked by a series of coups and military takeovers. The current transitional government, established after the ousting of former president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba in September 2022, has struggled to maintain control amid rising security threats and public discontent. The military’s role in governance has been a contentious issue, with various factions vying for influence and power.
