Burkina Faso’s ruling junta says it has thwarted an attempt to destabilize the African country “with the help of foreign powers.”

DAKAR (Reuters) - Burkina Faso's junta said it had uncovered an international plot to overthrow it and which included the massacre in August of hundreds of civilians by Islamist insurgents. Some critics and analysts however said the junta's statement was an attempt to deflect blame for the killings and security situation in the country.

Burkina's Security minister accused namely 14 people of plotting the destabilization attempt. Among them junta opponents, the leader of the Jan. 2022 coup, two former ministers, two journalists. Unidentified conspirators includedWestern intelligence officials.

Burkina Faso's ruling junta foiled an attempted destabilization plot allegedly involving foreign powers. The transitional government, in power since 2022, blames civilians and servicemen abroad for planning attacks.

The Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Ghana, Sini Pierre Sanou, has reportedly been sacked by the country’s military junta for allegedly being involved in a plot to overthrow the government of Captain Ibrahim Traore.

Burkina Faso's junta alleges an international conspiracy to overthrow its government, attributing the recent massacre of civilians to Islamist insurgents. Critics argue the junta aims to deflect blame for deteriorating security.