As Security Crisis Deepens, Burkina Faso’s Junta Turns to Repression

In early June, an onslaught connected a subject base adjacent Mansila, successful eastbound Burkina Faso, reportedly resulted successful nan decease of much than 100 soldiers. As rumors of a mutiny spread, Capt. Ibrahim Traore, nan leader of nan country’s subject junta, vanished from nationalist view, presumably whisked distant by his information team.

Traore reappeared respective days later, surrounded by loyalists, and denied nan rumors. But his be aware is understandable. In caller years, akin attacks person exacerbated existing divisions wrong nan ranks, precipitating 2 subject coups successful 2022. The first, led by Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba successful January 2022, ousted Burkina Faso’s democratically elected president, Roch Marc Christian Kabore. Under Kabore, nan government’s inability to incorporate a quickly expanding militant Islamist insurgency culminated successful a bid of subject losses successful nan months preceding nan coup, including 1 successful Inata that near much than 50 soldiers dead successful November 2021.

Little changed nether Damiba, however, and successful September 2022, an insurgent onslaught killed 11 Burkinabe soldiers and near 20 wounded. Four days later, Traore led his ain coup, ousting Damiba and installing himself astatine nan caput of nan junta. Yet nether his rule, too, a deficiency of strategy coupled pinch misguided heavy-handed strategies has worsened nan information situation and unleashed a humanitarian disaster successful Burkina Faso.