Burkinsa Faso grants amnesty to those involved in failed 2015 coup
Burkina Faso’s ruling junta has passed a new amnesty law in what seems like an attempt to move on from the tumultuous last decade the country has experienced.
A bill has been passed by Burkina Faso’s transitional legislative assembly which grants amnesty to soldiers involved in the failed coup in September 2015, according to RFI on January 1st.
The law grants amnesty only to those involved in events that took place on the 15th and 16th of that month, when members of ex-president Blaise Compaoré’s elite presidential security regiment attempted to end the transitional government less than a month before elections.
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Campaoré was removed from office the previous year by protestors angered by his attempts to change the constitution to extend his almost-three decade rule.
Captain Ibrahim Traore who rules Burkina Faso said those seeking what is called “administrative grace” by the law must submit a request to the head of state.
Whether or not amnesty is granted will depend on an assessment of the threat the applicant poses to public institutions, and their commitment to what is termed as the fight against terrorism.
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Justice minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala when presenting the legislation said that the applicants will have to admit to facts, behave well, and be willing to be deployed in that fight.
Bayala added that no one granted amnesty will face legal prosecution, their convictions will be overturned and any offenses committed will not be mentioned in the person’s record. In 2019, a number of high-ranking officers were sentenced to prison terms.
RFI
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