You Wonder Why Countercoups in Burkina Faso Are More Frequent?
By Fidel Amakye Owusu
You wonder why countercoups in Burkina Faso are more frequent? I posted this in late 2022. Kindly, let’s take a read.
“Wagner in Burkina Faso: not unexpected considering domestic dynamics.
1. The President of Ghana has announced the presence of Russian Wagner forces in Ghana’s northern neighbour Burkina Faso.
2. While some people who are wary of Wagner in the continent consider this a setback, a more critical issue is often ignored when it comes to Burkina.
3. What?
4. This has been the political dichotomy in Burkina Faso since the 1980s—and which is largely responsible for the Wagner presence.
5. This political divide is represented by the “Compoare” (right-wing) group and the “Sankara” (left-wing) group.
6. Thomas Sankara led a successful coup in the early 1980s and adopted socialist policies that for four years led to significant socio-economic successes. Compaore was one of his trusted lieutenants.
7. In October 1987, Compoare led a coup that killed Sankara. Sankara’s leftist politics had spooked Western and especially French interests. It is reported that regional leaders like Houphouet-Boigny of Cote d’Ivoire had supported the 1987 coup.
8. Since his death, many people in Burkina Faso have viewed Sankara as a political martyr. He has many admirers inside and outside Burkina Faso.
9. After 27 years in power, Compaore was ousted by popular protests in 2014. For the first time since the death of Sankara his “adherents” were in control.
10. While this had not manifested ideologically in a post-Cold War era, for the first time “real” justice for Sankara was within reach. Compaore fled to Cote d’Ivoire.
11. Later in 2021, investigations were launched, and Compaore was prosecuted and jailed in absentia in 2022.
12. Before the verdict, the civilian government was overthrown by a junta. While the coup was not overtly a reactionary one, it had major players who were pro-Compaore.
13. In July, Compaore was allowed to return to Burkina Faso for a few days in the name of national reconciliation. He subsequently issued an apology to the family of Sankara.
14. In September 2022, a 34-year-old Captain led a coup that toppled the transitional government.
15. The September coup was welcomed by pro-Sankara groups that were frustrated by what they considered to be impunity of the system. They detest the idea of Compaore returning or not facing justice.
16. Supporters of the putsch mounted Russian flags on motorcycles to welcome the new junta.
17. Westerners who had expressed their concerns were immediately reassured by the new junta. Interestingly, however, many ordinary Africans mistaken Russian interest in Africa to be the same as that of the erstwhile USSR—it’s the sad reality.
18. To the junta, the presence of Wagner will protect them, and help them fight the terror menace–they believe in the Mali “example”.
19 Pro-Compaores may be on standby…”
#africa
By Fidel Amakye Owusu – International Relations and Security Analyst and Writer
Article Reproduced with Permission from Fidel Amakye Owusu
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