BURKINA Faso’s military leadership has granted amnesty to 21 soldiers convicted for their roles in the failed 2015 coup attempt, according to an official decree obtained by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The decree, signed last week and disclosed on Monday, formalises the release of soldiers who were jailed after the attempted overthrow of the transitional government that followed the fall of long-time ruler Blaise Compaoré.
Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in a 2022 military takeover, first announced plans for a broad amnesty in December 2024, stating it would apply to individuals convicted over the September 2015 coup bid.
The newly published decree says the soldiers—six officers and 15 lower-ranking personnel—have been officially pardoned for crimes committed during the failed coup. Those crimes included charges such as ‘harming state security’, treason, and murder.
Top coup leaders excluded from amnesty
Two senior military figures who led the coup attempt—General Gilbert Diendéré, former chief of staff to Compaoré, and Djibrill Bassolé, ex-minister of foreign affairs—remain excluded from the pardon. Diendéré and Bassolé were sentenced in 2019 to 20 and 10 years in prison respectively by a military tribunal in Ouagadougou.
The 2015 coup, which sought to derail the transitional government set up after Compaoré was ousted in a popular uprising, was crushed within two weeks by loyalist forces. The violence left 14 people dead and over 270 injured.
According to AFP, the decree stipulates that the pardoned soldiers may rejoin the national army but are not entitled to career progression or financial compensation.
Amnesty linked to anti-terror efforts
The government’s move comes at a time when Burkina Faso continues to grapple with a decade-long insurgency by Islamist militants affiliated with both Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. As part of the amnesty conditions, pardoned individuals must demonstrate a ‘patriotic commitment’ and declare a willingness to actively support the fight against terrorism.
Soldiers seeking a pardon must submit a formal request before the end of June 2025. The government hopes the reintegration of trained military personnel will bolster ongoing counter-terrorism operations, especially in northern and eastern regions plagued by jihadist violence.
In December, the Ministry of Justice revealed that around 1,200 individuals convicted in connection with the 2015 coup could be eligible for amnesty starting January 1, 2025. The 21 soldiers now pardoned are among the first to benefit under this scheme.
Burkina Faso remains under military rule as the country attempts to stabilise amid ongoing political and security crises.
