The Facts
On Wednesday, Burkina Faso's military government claimed the country's security and intelligence services had foiled an attempted coup the previous day.
In a statement, the junta said that "officers and other alleged actors involved in this attempt at destabilization" have been arrested.
The Spin
Narrative A
The recent coup attempt shows that certain forces want to prevent Burkina Faso from becoming a truly independent nation. The same applies to neighboring states such as Niger, which faces the threat of state collapse in the event of military intervention, as in Libya. For too long, Burkina Faso has suffered under the hypocrisy and domination of the West, which is now blocking the fight against Islamist terror. However, the people of Burkina Faso will continue to follow the chosen path of freedom and sovereignty.
Narrative B
So far, the junta in Burkina Faso has not provided any evidence for its claim of an intended coup in the country. On the other hand, it would not be a surprise, given that the new strongman Traoré himself came to power through a coup. Despite their claims to the contrary, the military government has failed to repel the jihadists, which increasingly undermines its legitimacy. Further coups are unlikely as long as Burkina Faso remains in a crisis.
