Burkina Faso’s military rulers say coup attempt foiled, plotters arrested
Al JazeeraOct 05, 2023
The Facts
On Saturday, at least six soldiers and 34 local volunteers were killed while 33 others were wounded in an attack by unknown gunmen in northern Burkina Faso, near the border with neighboring Mali.
Local authorities said on Sunday that the attack on the soldiers and members of the self-defense group "Volunteers for the Defense of the Fatherland" took place near the village of Aorema, about 15 km (9 miles) northeast of the city of Ouahigouya.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
The latest attack is a sad setback for Burkina Faso in its ongoing fight against terrorism. However, this doesn't change the fact that the government is on the right track after throwing out the French, who have been chronically unsuccessful in fighting jihadism for years while pursuing their neocolonial interests. Only a sovereign and truly independent Burkina Faso in a multipolar world will ultimately bring lasting security and peace to its people.
Pro-establishment narrative
The jihadist attack is another indication that the security situation in Burkina Faso continues to deteriorate after the military junta forced France to leave the country. If the regime now turns to the Kremlin and its notorious Wagner mercenaries, it is safe to assume that the country's security will continue to deteriorate — including serious human rights violations. The junta has only itself to blame for Burkina Faso's increasing destabilization.