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

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.