Burkina Faso’s transitional president has granted amnesty to over 20 soldiers convicted or prosecuted for their roles in the failed coup attempt of September 15-16, 2015. The decree, issued on March 24, 2025, not only pardons the soldiers but also lifts any disciplinary sanctions imposed on them. However, those reinstated into the military will not receive career restoration or financial compensation.
The decision comes after the Transitional Legislative Assembly (ALT) overwhelmingly approved a government amnesty bill in December 2024, with 67 out of 70 legislators voting in favor. The move is seen as part of broader national reconciliation efforts amid Burkina Faso’s ongoing security challenges.
The 2015 coup attempt was orchestrated by the now-disbanded Presidential Security Regiment (RSP), an elite unit loyal to former President Blaise Compaoré. The coup plotters detained then-Transitional President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Isaac Zida, briefly overthrowing the interim government before being forced to surrender under domestic and international pressure.
In 2019, coup leader General Gilbert Diendéré was sentenced to 20 years in prison, along with several high-ranking officers involved in the plot. While the amnesty does not extend to Diendéré and other top coup figures, it marks a significant shift in the transitional government’s approach to addressing past political crises.
