OUAGADOUGOU: The army officers who have seized power in Burkina Faso said in televised comments on Saturday that toppled junta leader Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was planning a counteroffensive from a “French base”.

Damiba “is believed to have taken refuge in the French base at Kamboinsin in order to plan a counter-offensive to stir up trouble in our defence and security forces,” they said in a statement read out on national television and signed by Captain Ibrahim Traore, the country’s new strongman.

France, the former colonial power in Burkina Faso, denied any involvement.

An hour before the televised comments by the military figures, who overthrew Damiba on Friday, the French embassy issued a statement “firmly denying any involvement of the French army in the events of the last few hours”.

The embassy also denied “rumours that Burkinabe authorities have been hosted or are under the protection of French military”.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres “strongly condemns any attempt to seize power by the force of

arms and calls on all actors to refrain from violence and seek dialogue,” his spokesman said in a statement on Saturday.

“Burkina Faso needs peace, stability and unity to fight terrorist groups and criminal networks operating in parts of the country,” the UNstatement added. Damiba himself came to power in a coup in January.

He had installed himself as leader of the country of 16 million after accusing elected president Roch Marc Christian Kabore of failing to beat back jihadist fighters.

With much of the Sahel region battling a growing Islamist insurgency, the violence has prompted a series of coups in Mali, Guinea and Chad since 2020.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2022