Burkina Faso: Coup leader, Gen. Diendere, faces 11 charges

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BURKINA FASO: ELEVEN allegations have been filed against the leader of the failed coup in Burkina Faso, General Gilbert Diendere.

His alleged accomplice, who denied any involvement in the coup, Mr. Djibril Bassole, a one time Foreign Affairs Minister, is also to face charges over the attempted coup.

Diendere, leader of the soldiers who attempted to seize power after President Michel Kafando, Prime Minister Isaac Zida and others were apprehended while holding meeting in Ouagadougou would be charged before a military tribunal.

Among the allegations he is going to defend himself against are threatening state security, murder, willful destruction of property, collusion with foreign forces against the country and voluntary assault, the GatewayMail learnt.

Similarly, government has disbanded the military presidential guard unit that carried out the failed coup.

The unit had shown loyalty to ousted President Blaise Compaore, who ruled the West African country longer than any of the past leaders, and was sacked from power during public uprising.

On September 16, a day after the interim President and Prime Minister of Burkina Faso were detained where they were holding cabinet meeting, the military struck in the West African country.

The whereabouts of Kafando and Zida, who were to pilot the French colonized country to democratic transition, were unknown but the military said it had seized power.

The coup which was announced on the radio and television sparked outrage from the citizens who trooped to the streets with no fewer than 10 persons alleged to have been killed by the military men.  Over 100 persons were said to have been injured during the coup.

Many others were also said to have been detained, while curfew was also imposed to prevent movement of people during the night and both land and air borders closed.

The development prompted the US State Department, French President, Francois Hollande, and African Union (AU) to condemn the military take over.

While the US said it was deeply concerned, Hollande declared that the coup was unwelcomed due to the fact that moves to elect new leaders democratically had commenced.

The coupists said that Diendere, the Chief of State to ex-President Blaise Compaore and his closest ally, would lead the new rulers, at the time the transition to democratic election has been scheduled to hold precisely on October 11 (today).

Compaore ruled for 27 years but was ousted from power last year when he was alleged to have committed series of abuses and attempted to tamper with the constitution to elongate himself in power.  He has since been in exiled.

According to a statement read by one Lieutenant Colonel Mamadou Bamba, the coupists flayed the electoral laws and assured that a coherent, fair and equitable process that would lead to inclusive elections would begin soon.