Burkina Faso’s Captain Traore Pardons 21 Soldiers Convicted For 2015 Failed Coup
The head of Burkina Faso’s junta has pardoned 21 soldiers convicted of involvement in a failed coup in 2015, according to an official order seen by AFP on Monday.
The volatile West African country has been ruled by military commanders since September 2022, following a coup orchestrated by Captain Ibrahim Traore.
Traore issued an “amnesty pardon” in December of last year for many people convicted in the 2015 attempt to overthrow the transitional government established following the fall of previous President Blaise Compaore.
“The following persons, who have been convicted or prosecuted before the courts for acts committed on September 15 and 16, 2015, are granted amnesty,” stated the decree, issued last week, listing the 21 soldiers.
🔴 Burkina Faso : 21 militaires condamnés pour participation au coup d’État de 2015 ont été graciés par le Président du Faso, le capitaine Ibrahim TRAORÉ. (Décret) #Burkina #Justice #GracePresidentielle pic.twitter.com/9x0GSz7F4b
— Ahmadou Atafa (@AhmadouAtafa) March 30, 2025
The list includes six officers, including two previous presidential guard unit commanders, as well as 15 non-commissioned officers and rank-and-file soldiers.
In 2019, they were found guilty by a military tribunal in Ouagadougou of “harming state security,” murder, or treason.
Gilbert Diendere, Compaore’s former chief of staff, and Djibril Bassole, head of diplomacy, were sentenced to 20 and 10 years in prison, respectively, for their roles in the failed coup.
They were not part of the amnesty. Those convicted have until June to seek a pardon.
For that to occur, individuals must “demonstrate a patriotic commitment to the reconquest of the territory” and additionally “express their willingness to actively participate in the fight against terrorism”.
The 21 pardoned troops will rejoin the army, which has been fighting jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State for over a decade.
However, the directive states that they will be ineligible for compensation or job advancement.
Diendere and Bassole attempted to depose the transitional administration established after Compaore was pushed out of office in October 2014 by a public uprising following 27 years in power.
Within two weeks, loyalist soldiers had put down the attempted coup. A total of 14 persons were killed and 270 injured.
The justice ministry announced in December that approximately 1,200 persons convicted in connection with the coup attempt would be pardoned starting January 1.
Burkina Faso’s Captain Traore Pardons 21 Soldiers Convicted For 2015 Failed Coup
