I regret staging this coup, says Burkina Faso junta leader
Gilbert Diendere, who staged the botched putsch in Burkina Faso, has described it as “the biggest mistake”, saying he is ready to face the consequences of his action.
Speaking in Ouagadougou after the reinstatement of the interim government, Diendere said he was happy that there was no confrontation between the presidential guard and the military.
The military had threatened to force Diendere out of power if he failed to surrender.
“The coup is over. It was a waste of time and resources, and human lives were lost. Carrying out this coup was the biggest mistake,” he said.
“We decided to give up because we knew the people were not in support of it. But what has put me in a good mood is the fact that we avoided confrontation.”
A strong ally of former president Blaise Comparore, Diendere is the head of the Presidential Security Regiment (RSP).
Mistake ke! The guy’s backside should be tossed in the worst gulag in Burkina or, at least, he should be convicted and then granted some presidential reprieve and the unit desolved to serve as deterrent for others who may be nursing such ambitions.