Coup Leaders Jailed In Burkina Faso

Two army generals who superintended a military coup in Burkina Faso have been jailed by a military court. The two generals planned and executed a short-lived coup in 2015 against the interim government that was set up after the removal of long-term president, Blaise Compaoré.

The two generals, who were close allies of the deposed president staged the coup in an attempt to reestablish the former president’s rule. Gilbert Diendéré and Djibril Bassolé were handed 20 and 10 year prison terms respectively on charges of murder and harming state security.

A nationwide protest was launched in late October 2014, to pressure the deposed president decision to extend his 27-year rule. His party had called for a parliamentary amendment to presidential term limits. The protests culminated in his overthrow and he fled to neighbouring Ivory Coast.