Vol 65 No 5 | BURKINA FASO Junta press-gangs the press 26th February 2024 Rasmané Zinaba and Bassirou Badjo, youth leaders in the pro-democracy movement Balai Citoyen (Citizen Sweep), were abducted on 20 February and 21 February respectively by unidentified agents, continuing...
DISPATCHES Vol 64 No 21 | BURKINA FASO Junta is latest to sign Russian nuclear pact 17th October 2023 Push into civilian energy markets in Africa continues as the shift away from fossil fuels opens up opportunities for Moscow to export its technology Burkina Faso is the latest African state to strike a deal on nuclear energy with Russia as the Kremlin continues its push towards civilian nuclear markets. Ministers confirmed... READ FOR FREE
Vol 64 No 20 | BURKINA FASO Putsch or purge? 5th October 2023 On 27 September, the government informed the nation that a conspiracy to overthrow it had been foiled. The announcement came just days before the first anniversary of Captain...
Vol 64 No 9 | BURKINA FASO Junta leader banks on autocracy 27th April 2023 The latest captain to run the country wants militias, censorship and army discipline to save the nation from the jihadists, and he doesn’t want help Military junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré is setting out his programme for victory in the war against militant jihadists, who have taken 40% of the country, killed thousands...
Vol 64 No 4 | BURKINA FASOMALI Restive Tuareg ramp up tension 16th February 2023 The Algiers peace accord is in danger of unravelling as both Mali and Burkina Faso struggle under new challenges from the jihadists While Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea talk of grand plans for diplomatic and economic cooperation, the already desperate Sahel security crisis has taken another turn for the worse.
Vol 64 No 3 | BURKINA FASOMALIECOWAS West Africa’s juntas look east 2nd February 2023 Ouagadougou is set to be the next military regime to invite Russian mercenaries after giving France a month for its troops to leave Captain Ibrahim Traoré's regime has brushed aside the concerns of fellow members of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) and gone even further than Mali and... READ FOR FREE
DISPATCHES Vol 64 No 2 | BURKINA FASOEUROPEAN UNIONSAHEL More European diplomatic dominoes fall as French ambassador is expelled from Ouagadogou 10th January 2023 The military juntas in the Sahel are sidelining Europe's efforts on security in favour of Moscow's forces When Burkina Faso's junta expelled France's ambassador, Luc Hallade, last week it reinforced the sense of failure of Europe's diplomatic and security policy in the region. READ FOR FREE
Vol 63 No 20 | BURKINA FASO Palace coup could usher in Moscow's mercenaries 5th October 2022 New leader Captain Traoré says security crisis forced his faction to seize power but it could work with Russia, Turkey or the US military On 3 October, a day after he was confirmed in power in Ouagadougou, new military leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré told a sceptical audience that he understood the urgency...
Vol 63 No 16 | BURKINA FASOUNITED STATES Veteran Israeli lobbyist helps Damiba's junta 28th July 2022 As US officials fret over Ouagadougou falling into Moscow's orbit, Ari Ben-Menashe offers arms and public relations services to the regime The junta under Lt Col Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba has run out of ideas as Islamist insurgents step up attacks against towns and villages, as well as mines and...
Vol 63 No 15 | BURKINA FASO Compaoré's return baffles nation 20th July 2022 The junta invited the ousted dictator back to the capital, defying court verdicts and enraging the public. But some of the elite still have time for him Looking frail and disoriented, Blaise Compaoré returned to Ouagadougou on 7 July for the first time since a popular revolt eight years ago swept him out of power...