The Burkinabe Minister of Security, Simon Compaoré, on Friday confirmed the arrest of 19 soldiers involved in a failed coup attempt, perpetrated by 30 soldiers of the presidential guard on October 8, 2016.
According to the minister, one coup plotter is still on the run.
Addressing a news conference, Compaoré said that the coup plotters wanted to attack the gendarmerie camp of Paspanga, located in the capital Ouagadougou, near the military prison and the presidency.
He said that in the event of failing to achieve their aim, the coup plotters had a plan B – which was to mutiny on Sunday, October 9, in the barracks across the country – and a plan C (to establish a rebellion).
The minister recalled: “On September 16, 2015, the ex presidential security regiment had briefly overthrown the transitional regime, before being defeated by a popular resistance backed by the international community and a large part of the Burkina Faso army.
The regiment was dissolved and its members redeployed to other units.
Source PANA
