What Is 1989 Burkina Faso coup d'état attempt

Overview

The 1989 Burkina Faso coup d'état attempt was a brief but significant challenge to President Blaise Compaoré’s rule, occurring just two years after he seized power in a 1987 coup that killed Thomas Sankara. Though the 1989 effort was quickly crushed, it exposed deep tensions within the military and growing discontent with Compaoré’s consolidation of power.

Unlike the successful 1987 coup, the 1989 attempt lacked broad support and was confined to a small faction of mid-ranking officers. The government responded swiftly, using loyal security forces to regain control and arrest the plotters, preventing any major violence or prolonged instability.

• September 17, 1989: The coup attempt unfolded early in the morning when rebel soldiers seized key locations in the capital, Ouagadougou, including the national radio station and presidential palace perimeter.
• Blaise Compaoré: The sitting president, who came to power in 1987 after orchestrating the assassination of Thomas Sankara, was the primary target of the coup.
• Military dissidents: The plot was led by mid-level officers from the Régiment de Sécurité Présidentielle (RSP), a unit historically loyal to Sankara and resentful of Compaoré’s leadership.
• Hours-long conflict: Fighting lasted only a few hours before loyalist troops regained control of key installations and restored Compaoré’s authority.
• Arrests and trials: At least 12 officers were arrested, with several later sentenced to long prison terms after a military tribunal convicted them of treason.

Key Players and Motivations

The 1989 coup attempt was rooted in lingering factionalism within Burkina Faso’s military, particularly resentment among officers loyal to the late Thomas Sankara. Compaoré’s rapid purge of Sankara loyalists after 1987 created an undercurrent of opposition that culminated in the 1989 plot.

• Thomas Sankara’s legacy: Sankara, a revolutionary leader assassinated in 1987, remained a symbolic figure for many junior officers who viewed Compaoré as a corrupt usurper.
• Blaise Compaoré: As president, Compaoré centralized power and aligned more closely with Western governments, alienating nationalist factions in the military.
• Régiment de Sécurité Présidentielle (RSP): This elite presidential guard unit, created under Sankara, became a hotbed of dissent due to political purges and reduced influence.
• Regional instability: Neighboring conflicts in West Africa heightened military tensions, with some officers fearing Compaoré would drag the country into foreign wars.
• Failed coordination: The coup lacked coordination with civilian opposition groups, limiting its reach and contributing to its swift collapse.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1989 coup attempt can be better understood by comparing it with other key political events in Burkina Faso’s modern history:

This comparison highlights how coup attempts in Burkina Faso often stem from military factionalism and leadership disputes. While the 1989 event was short-lived, it set a precedent for future instability, including the 2015 attempted coup by the same RSP unit.

Why It Matters

The 1989 coup attempt, though unsuccessful, had lasting implications for Burkina Faso’s political trajectory. It underscored the fragility of Compaoré’s regime and foreshadowed future military unrest, particularly within elite security units.

• Consolidation of power: After 1989, Compaoré intensified efforts to purge the military of dissent, promoting loyalists and expanding surveillance.
• Military distrust: The incident deepened divisions between the army and presidential guard, contributing to long-term instability.
• Suppression of dissent: The government used the coup as justification to crack down on political opposition and independent media.
• Regional impact: Neighboring countries closely monitored the situation, fearing spillover from internal conflict.
• Precedent for future coups: The 1989 attempt demonstrated that even swift failures could inspire later actions, such as the 2015 RSP-led coup.
• Legacy of Sankara: The coup attempt kept Sankara’s revolutionary ideals alive in military circles, influencing political discourse for decades.

Ultimately, the 1989 coup attempt was a pivotal moment that revealed the vulnerabilities of authoritarian rule in Burkina Faso. While Compaoré remained in power until 2014, the seeds of resistance planted in 1989 contributed to the eventual popular uprising that ended his 27-year rule.