While no official statement has been made yet from the government or the army, local and international media reports stated that Burkina Faso Parliament Speaker Alassane Sakande and Burkina Faso Prime Minister Lassina Zerbo were also taken to the Paspanga gendarmerie camp in the capital, Ouagadougou.
While the image of a bulleted vehicle allegedly belonging to President Kabore was shared on social media, it was claimed that Kabore was caught while trying to escape to the French Embassy.
It was noted that a clash broke out between the soldiers and the presidential guards, and all four of Kabore’s bodyguards were detained.
The man behind the attempt is Lieutenant Colonel Damiba
It was shared that Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was behind the military uprising.
It was stated that Lieutenant Colonel Damiba was also related to the 12th Commando Infantry Regiment Corps Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Mohamed Emmanuel Zoungrana, who was detained on January 12 on charges of “preparing for a coup”.
It was revealed that Damiba, who was appointed as the ‘Second Military District Commander‘ by Kabore on December 3, 2021, also took part in the coup attempt in 2015.
It was learned that Damiba was also asked to testify in the case where General Gilbert Diendere, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for being behind the coup attempt in September 2015, is on trial.
Damiba, who studied at the Paris Military Academy like the junta leader in Mali, Mamady Doumbaya, has a book titled “West African Armies and Terrorism: Uncertain Answers,” which was released in June 2021.
