The leader of Burkina Faso’s military junta, Captain Ibrahim Traore, has granted amnesty to 21 soldiers convicted for their roles in a failed coup attempt in 2015.
The amnesty for the 21 soldiers was announced through an official decree.
Since September 2022, Burkina Faso has been under military rule following a coup led by Captain Ibrahim Traore.
In December 2023, Traore announced a general amnesty for several individuals convicted of attempting to overthrow the transitional government that was established after former President Blaise Compaoré’s ouster.
“The following persons, who have been convicted or prosecuted before the courts for acts committed on Sept. 15 and 16, 2015, are granted amnesty,” the decree stated.
The list includes six officers, two of whom were former unit commanders of the presidential guard alongside 15 non-commissioned officers and enlisted soldiers.
The decree also allows the pardoned soldiers to rejoin the Burkinabe military, which has been engaged in a prolonged battle against extremist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and Daesh for over a decade.
However, they will not be entitled to compensation or career advancement.
The 21 soldiers had been convicted in 2019 by a military tribunal in Ouagadougou for charges including harming state security, murder, and treason. However, two high-ranking generals—former chief of staff Gilbert Diendéré and ex-foreign minister Djibril Bassolé who were considered the masterminds behind the coup attempt, remain excluded from the amnesty.
Diendéré was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while Bassolé received a 10-year sentence.
The decree stipulates that those convicted have until June to formally request a pardon. To qualify, they must demonstrate “a patriotic commitment to the reconquest of the territory” and express a willingness to actively participate in the fight against terrorism.
