Accessibility links

Breaking News

Burkina Faso General, Ex-Minister Charged Over Failed Coup


FILE - General Gilbert Diendere, Sep 23, 2015.
FILE - General Gilbert Diendere, Sep 23, 2015.

The general in charge of the failed coup in Burkina Faso last month has been formally charged, along with one other top official accused of supporting the overthrow of Burkina Faso's government.

General Gilbert Diendere and Djibrill Bassole, a former foreign minister, were charged Tuesday with "attacking state security."

During the failed coup, Diendere's forces in the elite presidential guard detained the interim president, prime minister and several Cabinet members. The guard was unhappy the interim government barred supporters of former president Blaise Compaore from running in upcoming elections.

Compaore was ousted in a popular uprising in October of last year as he tried to extend his 27 years in office.

General Diendere held power for nearly a week but was forced to step down under pressure from the army, demonstrators and the West African bloc ECOWAS.

Diendere gave himself up last week following negotiations with officials in the capital, Ouagadougou.

Bassole, who served as foreign minister under Compaore, has denied any connection with the coup.

Both men were remanded in custody.

Burkina Faso was planning to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on October 11. It remains unclear when that vote will take place.

  • 16x9 Image

    VOA News

    The Voice of America provides news and information in more than 40 languages to an estimated weekly audience of over 326 million people. Stories with the VOA News byline are the work of multiple VOA journalists and may contain information from wire service reports.

XS
SM
MD
LG