Burkina Faso recently revealed that it has thwarted another coup aimed at the junta leader, Ibrahim Traoré.
- Burkina Faso recently thwarted a coup attempt aimed at junta leader Ibrahim Traoré.
- The coup was orchestrated by Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, the former leader removed by Traoré in 2022.
- The plot involved detailed strategic plans to assassinate the president and seize key state institutions.
- Funding for the coup included foreign investments, notably from neighboring Ivory Coast.
Mahamadou Sana, the security minister of the West African country, disclosed key details about the coup, including the fact that it had been funded by elements from a neighbouring country.
Mahamadou Sana stated in a late-night broadcast that the mastermind behind the coup was the very person Ibrahim Traoré ousted from power in 2022.
“Our intelligence services intercepted this operation in the final hours. They had planned to assassinate the head of state and then strike other key institutions, including civilian personalities,” said Mahamadou Sana.
The security minister also revealed that security agents obtained a tape that showed the conspirators discussing their plans.
They allegedly discussed in the video how they planned to kill the president on Saturday, January 3, shortly after 23:00 local time, either by setting off explosives at his home or at close range.
They purportedly planned to target other high-ranking civilian and military officials after that.
As reported by the BBC, the security minister noted that Damiba had organized both military and civilian followers, obtained foreign finance, most notably 70 million CFA francs ($125,000; £92,000) from the Ivory Coast, and intended to destroy the nation’s drone-launch base before outside troops could step in.
“We are carrying out ongoing investigations and have made several arrests. These individuals will be brought to justice soon,” the minister said on national television.
Mahamadou Sana made reassurances during the broadcast that the situation had been handled and urged the people “not to be misled, out of naivety, into dangerous schemes.”
Ibrahim Traoré
Ibrahim Traoré is a Burkinabè military officer who rose to power in September 2022 after leading a coup in Burkina Faso, making him one of the world’s youngest heads of state.
Traoré, then a captain in the army, overthrew interim president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who himself had taken power in a coup earlier in January 2022.
The takeover came amid growing frustration within the military and the public over Damiba’s handling of the country’s worsening Islamist insurgency, which had claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions.
Following the coup, Traoré was named interim president, positioning himself as a leader focused on restoring security, reclaiming territory from militant groups, and asserting national sovereignty.
His rise was backed by segments of the armed forces and large public demonstrations, particularly among young people disillusioned with previous leadership.
Since assuming power, Traoré has reshaped Burkina Faso’s political and foreign policy direction, distancing the country from traditional Western allies and strengthening ties with non-Western partners, while emphasizing self-reliance and military-led governance.
