Supporters call to rally around Burkina junta after claimed coup

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Supporters of Burkina Faso's military leader have called for a mass rally on Wednesday in support of the junta, state media reported, after the government said it had foiled an attempted coup.

On April 21, the west African country's junta claimed to have undone a "major plot" planned by masterminds in neighbouring Ivory Coast, with the arrests of several top army officials.

Junta chief Captain Ibrahim Traore, who took power in a coup in September 2022, has regularly blamed Ivory Coast for harbouring his opponents, accusations its neighbour rejects.

The National Coordination of the Civilian Vigil (CNAVC), a coalition of pro-junta civil society groups, called on Burkina's civilians to "come out in massive numbers on April 30, 2025... in support of Captain Ibrahim Traore".

"These threats are no longer acceptable. To get to President Ibrahim Traore, you have to first go through the Burkinabe people," CNAVC spokesman Ghislain Dabire told the Burkina Information Agency.

The rally is set to take place on the Place de la Republique in the capital Ouagadougou, according to the movement.

Since Traore came to power, the military government has cracked down on dissent. Kidnappings and arbitrary arrests of both civilian critics and army personnel accused of plotting have increased.

Ivory Coast has consistently denied the junta's accusations it was providing refuge to Burkina Faso's dissidents.

"I don't know how many times we've been accused. I'm still waiting for proof of the latest accusation. Perhaps there will be others," said Ivorian government spokesman Amadou Coulibaly last week.