Burkina Faso’s recent amnesty for soldiers implicated in the failed 2015 coup has drawn sharp criticism for its potential to embolden future coup attempts. According to critics, the law could set a dangerous precedent for those looking to oust Ibrahim Traore, the nation’s military leader, particularly since he also came to power via a coup. However, some analysts suggest that the law, backed by military ruler Ibrahim Traore, reflects a dual strategy. The first is to appease the military’s upper brass and quell opposition to his government, while the second is to leverage the expertise of pardoned figures like General Gilbert Diendéré and Djibril Bassole to combat escalating terrorist violence. According to the political scientist Geoffroy Julien Kouao, the experience of these soldiers could aid in countering insurgencies linked to ISIS and al-Qaeda.
Source: VOA
