Burkina leader Faso Junta forgives 21 troops involved in the 2015 coup attempt

Being determined to foster national unity, the leader of the Burkina Faso Military Junta has provided forgiveness to 21 soldiers who were convicted of their role in the 2015 coup that failed, according to the official decree obtained by the media on Monday.

Captain Ibrahim Traore, who has led a problematic West African state since the September 2022 coup, announced “amnesty forgiveness” in December the previous year for people who were convicted in connection with the 2015 efforts to overthrow the transition government that followed the decline in former President Blaise Compaore.

“The following people, who have been punished or prosecuted before the court for actions taken on 15 and 16 September 2015, were given amnesty,” the decree stated, was issued last week and registered 21 troops.

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This list includes six officers, including two former unit commanders from the current presidential guard who is denied, along with 15 officers who are not assigned and the army of rank. They were found guilty by the Military Court in Ouagadougou in 2019 on charges including “harming state security,” murder, and betrayal.

In particular, forgiveness does not extend the two generals consider the failed coupuper: Gilbert Dierere, former Compaore Chief of Staff, and Djibril Bassole, former head of diplomacy, who each received sentences of 20 and 10 years in prison.

The soldiers who were forgiven had time until June to officially ask for their forgiveness. To meet the requirements, they must “demonstrate the patriotic commitment to the regional conquest” and “express their willingness to actively participate in the war against terrorism.” After being forgiven, they will rejoin the Burkinabe Army, who have been involved in a decade of struggle against jihadist groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and Islamic State groups. However, the decision determines that they will not meet the requirements for compensation or career progress.

Dierene and Bassole led efforts to overthrow the transition government set after the forced resignation of the Compaore in October 2014, after 27 years in power. Loyalist troops managed to press the coup within two weeks, resulting in 14 deaths and 270 injuries.

The Ministry of Justice had previously announced in December that around 1,200 people who were convicted in connection with the 2015 coup effort would be forgiven, with the process starting in January.

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