Burkina Faso’s military government says it has thwarted a plot to assassinate President Ibrahim Traoré and destabilise the country, accusing a former leader and foreign backers of being behind the alleged plan.
Security Minister Mahamadou Sana announced on Tuesday that the plot was orchestrated by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba, the former head of state who was ousted by Captain Traoré in a 2022 coup. According to Sana, the plan was aimed at sowing chaos and overthrowing the current military leadership.
The minister further alleged that the operation was financed from neighbouring Ivory Coast, a claim that adds to already strained relations between the two West African countries. He did not provide detailed evidence to support the accusation.
There has so far been no official response from the Ivorian authorities, nor any public comment from Lieutenant-Colonel Damiba regarding the allegations.
Captain Traoré, who seized power promising to restore security amid a worsening Islamist insurgency, has survived several alleged coup attempts since taking office. His government has repeatedly accused external actors, including Ivory Coast, of supporting efforts to undermine the junta.
Burkina Faso has experienced a series of military takeovers since 2022, reflecting deep political instability and public frustration over the government’s inability to contain militant violence. The latest allegations are likely to heighten regional tensions and reinforce the junta’s narrative of external interference as it consolidates its hold on power.
