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 claims to have foiled a plot to destabilize the country, allegedly involving foreign powers and individuals residing in Ivory Coast. Security Minister Mahamadou Sana revealed the plot on national television,