Burkina Faso’s military regime claims to have dismantled a significant coup attempt aimed at toppling junta leader Capt Ibrahim Traoré. Security Minister Mahamadou Sana revealed that both active and former soldiers were involved, allegedly collaborating with terrorist leaders. Their plan was to storm the presidential palace and incite chaos, pushing the nation under foreign supervision.
The plot, foiled last week but only now revealed, reportedly had support from outside Burkina Faso specifically, neighbouring Ivory Coast. Sana pointed fingers at two ex-army officers believed to be orchestrating the operation from abroad. Several local soldiers were arrested, accused of leaking sensitive data to insurgents and trying to rally army officers against the government.
According to authorities, the conspirators even tried using religious and traditional leaders to influence key military personnel. The plan was timed for a full scale assault on the presidency on April 16, 2025. Sana emphasized this was not just a rogue operation but a calculated attempt backed by Burkina Faso’s “enemies.”
This is not the first destabilization attempt under Traoré, who seized power in 2022 amid rising jihadist violence. Burkina Faso continues to face relentless attacks, with insurgents controlling nearly 40% of the country. Despite realigning its security partnerships away from France and toward Russia, peace remains elusive.
The junta has long accused Ivory Coast of harbouring opposition figures and fomenting unrest. With trust in the region crumbling, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have withdrawn from the ECOWAS bloc, forming a new alliance as military led states chart a more hardline course.
