ConflictBarometer_2015

GLOBAL CONFLICT PANORAMA
COUPS D'ÉTAT
Throughout the year, only two attempted coups d'états were observed, none of which resulted in the ousting of the state's
leadership. Both attempts took place in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Burkina Faso, which already had witnessed a coup in 2014,
the continuing tensions between groups loyal to ousted pres-ident Blaise Compaoré and the interim government led by
President Michel Kafando triggered an unsuccessful coup attempt [→ Burkina Faso (opposition)]. In October 2014,
Compaoré fled to Côte d'Ivoire after violent mass protests had taken place and the military had declared the dissolution
of the government. This year, the Regiment for Presidential Security (RSP) staged a coup against the interim govern-ment.
The latter had adopted a new electoral code banning pro-Compaoré candidates from running in the presidential elections.
On September 16, following a report of the Rec-onciliation Commission recommending the RSP's dissolution, members of
the RSP led by Compaoré affiliate General Gilbert Diendéré staged a coup storming a cabinet meeting and ab-ducting the
prime minister and the president. Diendéré declared himself president, prompting thousands to protest in the capital
Ouagadougou. The RSP targeted the demon-strations using live ammunition, killing at least eleven and injuring more than
270. Against the backdrop of international pressure and the military issuing an ultimatum for RSP's sur-render, the coup
plotters agreed to step down on September 22. Four days later, the interim government dissolved the RSP and, on October
1, Diendéré was arrested. Ultimately, the postponed presidential elections were successfully held on November 29. They
were considered the most democratic elections in the country's history and resulted in the ap-pointment of Roch Kaboré,
a civilian politician, as president, winning an absolute majority of the votes.
In Burundi, General Godefroid Niyombare, former head of intelligence, along with Defense Minister Cyrille Ndayirukiye
staged an unsuccessful coup attempt on May 13 [→ Burundi (opposition)]. The announcement of President Pierre Nkurunziza
to run for a third term on April 25, which was considered unconstitutional, sparked massive popular uprisings. Dozens
of people were killed in clashes between protesters and security forces in the capital Bujumbura and hundreds of
thousands fled the country due to the ongoing unrest. On May 13, while Nkurunziza was attending an extraordinary
summit of the East African Community in Tanzania to dis-cuss Burundi's current situation, a group of militaries led by
Niyombare staged an attempted coup. Heavy fighting took place in the capital, but security forces quickly repelled the
plotters, arresting several. However, Niyombare wasn't cap-tured and was reportedly named chief of the militant group
Forebu. The coup attempt was also subject to tensions be-tween Burundi and Rwanda, as Burundi accused Rwanda of
hosting Niyombare and facilitating the coup plotters' actions [→ Burundi – Rwanda]. (fsc)
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