Burkina Faso coup leader Gen Diendere ‘in custody’

Gen Gilbert Diendere – the leader of last month’s short-lived coup in Burkina Faso – is in the custody of the country’s security forces, sources say. Some reports suggest he earlier surrendered at an unnamed diplomatic mission in the capital Ouagadougou. Interim President Michel Kafando was reinstated last week after intervention from the army and […]

Gen Gilbert Diendere – the leader of last month’s short-lived coup in Burkina Faso – is in the custody of the country’s security forces, sources say.
Some reports suggest he earlier surrendered at an unnamed diplomatic mission in the capital Ouagadougou.
Interim President Michel Kafando was reinstated last week after intervention from the army and West African leaders.
The presidential guards’ unit that carried out the coup is to be disbanded.
“He [Gen Diendere] has been handed over to Burkinabe authorities,” a judicial source was quoted as saying by Reuters.
The general had earlier taken refuge at the residence of the Vatican’s representative in Burkina Faso, reports say.
Details of his reported surrender are still unclear.
The financial assets of Gen Diendere and another 13 people suspected of involvement in the coup were frozen last week.
Separately, the first full meeting of the government since Mr Kafando’s reinstatement decided to disband the presidential guard (RSP) and to dismiss the minister in charge of security.
The RSP – a unit of 1,200 well-armed and well-trained men – is loyal to Blaise Compaore, the country’s long-time ruler who was ousted last year.