AA / Ouagadougou / Dramane Traoré
Lieutenant-Colonel Emmanuel Zoungrana, imprisoned since mid-January for alleged acts of “attempt to destabilize institutions” under the regime of Roch Marc Christian Kaboré was arrested on Tuesday for similar reasons when he had been released provisional, only on December 15 in the first file, announced Wednesday evening the Burkinabe military prosecutor’s office in a press release.
The Military Prosecutor’s Office explained in its press release that the first elements of the investigation reveal that soldiers in collusion with civilians were preparing “a destabilization of State institutions” and that “Chief Warrant Officer Neboa Charles and Sergeant Traoré Adama are cited as part of the group according to the whistleblower”.
“This group would be in contact with the “Green Mamba” Unit of Lieutenant-Colonel Zoungrana Emmanuel, and planned to launch simultaneous attacks on the Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina (RTB), the Maison d’Arrêt et de Correction des Armées (MACA ), where this senior officer was being held preventively for other similar acts, and the residence of the Head of State”, noted the Public Prosecutor’s Office, specifying that according to its sources “reinforcements were expected from elements of other units”.
The Burkinabè military justice pointed out that the investigation carried out has made it possible to date to hear and confront several people, witnesses and defendants, while two defendants are on the run.
From the statements collected, it appears “constantly” that their company was planned by physical interactions during visits or by telephone, with Lieutenant-Colonel Zoungrana Emmanuel from the military prison, the place of his detention, according to the Public Prosecutor’s Office which specifies that on 09 November 2022 during routine searches of the detainees’ cells, a mobile phone was found in the possession of Lieutenant-Colonel Zoungrana.
“For some members of this group (which was preparing the putsch) Lieutenant-Colonel Zoungrana Emmanuel would be the man for the job after the events of September 30, 2020, and their action was intended to bring him to the head of state. For others it was to release him from military prison,” said the military prosecutor’s office.
Zoungrana was arrested on January 14 and imprisoned at the Armed Forces Remand and Correctional Center (Maca) for “attempting to destabilize state institutions”. He was granted provisional release on December 15.
“In view of the manifestation of the truth, Lieutenant-Colonel Zoungrana was arrested on December 27, 2022, at his home in Pabré, not without resistance and propaganda on the web, even though he was enjoying provisional freedom in the first case”, explained the prosecution.
In a video published shortly before his arrest, Zoungrana said he was the victim of a settling of scores by his detractors who want to tarnish his image and keep him out of political life.
The socio-political situation in Burkina Faso is marked by an unprecedented deterioration in terms of security against a backdrop of terrorist attacks since 2015 and a recurrence of coups d’etat.
On January 24, 2022, as democratically elected President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré entered the second year of his second term, he was overthrown by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, calling the management of the situation “inefficient”. security in Kaboré.
Eight months later, Damiba was in turn overthrown on September 30, by Captain Ibrahim Traoré who accused him of having made risky choices in terms of security.
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