Background
Burkina Faso is gradually sinking into an authoritarian rule since the seizure of power by Captain Ibrahim Traore and the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR) II, particularly in recent times. Media practitioners, civil society organisations (CSOs), political parties and other individuals who are seen criticising the ruling regime or classified as opponents are criminalised and either arrested, detained or requisitioned to the battleground into the militias. Relatives are appointed to key positions, and massacres of civilians take place in the name of the fight against terrorism.
Coups d’état
On 22 January 2022, Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba led the MPSR I to stage the first coup d’état to overthrow the elected president, Christian Marc Kaboré. The group cited the worsening security situation in the country as the main motivator for their action. The government and the National Assembly were dissolved.
Eight months later, a new putsch was staged by a section of the army calling itself the MPSR II, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, citing that Damiba had deviated from the principles of the MPSR I and aligning itself with the West. Once again, the government and the National Assembly were dissolved.
In September 2023, another coup attempt was carried out but failed. Since then, several other coup attempts have been announced by the transition regime with allegations of trying to eliminate the leader of the transition, Captain Traore. Criticism of the ineffectiveness of the various putsches in restoring order has been gradually growing in the country, but the regime continues to suppress the population.
Parts of the country out of control
The political instability in the country is due to an extremely deteriorated security situation. The government only controls about half of its territory with the rest under the influence of armed groups including Al-Qaeda’s local arm Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS). The explosion of terrorism since 2018 has never been contained, resulting in over one million citizens being displaced.
In various attempts by the military regime to bring the country under control, the government tried to syphon and control information by preventing the dissemination of criticism, banning several media organisations from operating in the Burkinabe territory, including France 24, Radio France Internationale and Jeune Afrique, among others.
The military regime has now instituted to prosecute anyone with more than 5k followers on social media who express criticism of the regime on the Internet.
Force requisition
The strategy of continuous arrest, detention and requisitions of statesmen, politicians and social media activists into the battleground has been adopted by Captain Traore and the MPSR II regime to silence their critics, opponents as well as other military personnel who appear to be a threat to the regime. Most of these people will have to be in the field for, at least, three months, which constitutes a flagrant violation of their human rights.
Some politicians, journalists, human rights activists and opinion leaders critical of the current regime have suffered from this strategy. Among them include Ablassé Ouédraogo, a 70-year-old politician; Dr Daouda Diallo, a CSO leader, and the abduction of the former Minister of Sports, Wahabou Drabo, among others. Men in uniform such as the former Chief of Staff of the National Gendarmerie, Lieutenant Colonel Evrad Somda and about a dozen soldiers have been arrested, while their fate remains unknown.
Consolidating power
Since his takeover of power, Captain Traore has made a series of appointments within the army including the rapid intervention battalions, commando infantry regiments and other groups within the security forces, to bring onboard people he trusts. Most of these soldiers are middle-ranked officers, just like Traore, to be able to control and be fully accountable to him
To be able to manage the senior military officers, the Captain elevated Colonel-Major Célestin Simporé, the Chief of Defence Staff of the Burkina Faso Armed Forces and the Colonel-Major Kassoum Coulibaly, the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs to Brigadier Generals, in order to consolidate power.
Most importantly, the MPSR II is on the brink of regime security with the arrival of 100 Russian soldiers (African Corps), with an additional 200 being expected at an undisclosed time, to give close protection to the president of the regime. Also, the President has enhanced his personal security and the perimeters of his office with the newly acquired military tanks and ammunition, while strengthening close aides with family and friends.
Massacres
Several massacres have been witnessed under the Traore-led administration often perpetuated by the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), who are armed civilian vigilantes, used by the government in the fight against terrorism, against the civilian population, particularly the Fulani.
On 20 April 2023, about 156 civilians were killed in a Karma massacre in the Northern region of Burkina Faso by what was claimed to be a raid by the army and its volunteer auxiliaries.
Similarly, in November 2023, over one hundred civilians, including women and children, were reportedly killed in a massacre in the village of Zaongo in the Central-North region of the country by the government forces.
Conclusion
The coups d’état were based on security rhetoric to end the deteriorating situation. However, it has to be said that the country is plunging deeper and deeper into both political and security chaos. Unable to cope with the deteriorating situation, the government has begun to criminalise the opposition, even going so far as to forcibly requisition opponents into the army and criminalise all forms of criticism. In order to strengthen his grip on power, and given the risk of further coup attempts, the Captain has gradually placed his family and friends in key positions, turning the regime into an authoritarian system.
