Authorities in Burkina Faso say they have thwarted a new coup attempt amid heightened political tensions in the West African country.
The alleged plot was uncovered late on Saturday night, January 3, before it could be carried out, according to official sources.
Burkina Faso’s government said that it thwarted an alleged coup attempt against President Capt. Ibrahim Traore, accusing Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, the former transitional president, of orchestrating the plot.
Security Minister Mahamadou Sana told national television RTB that the plot, which had been planned for late Saturday, was foiled “thanks to the professionalism of the intelligence services.”
He said the plan involved a series of targeted assassinations of military and civilian officials, starting with an attempt to kill Traore, either at close range or by planting explosives at his residence.
The information was first made public by a pro-government web television outlet, citing security officials. Government authorities later confirmed the claims, saying the situation is under control while security forces remain on high alert.
Speaking in a televised address, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Security, Mahamadou Sana, said the plan involved a coordinated effort to destabilise the country through a series of targeted assassinations. He stated that the plot was scheduled to begin at around 11 p.m. and would have targeted both civilian and military leaders.
According to Sana, the alleged plan included attempts to neutralise the head of state, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, either at close range or through an operation aimed at mining his residence. “A plan was in place to destabilise the country through targeted assassinations,” the minister said.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing and that arrests have already begun. Sana warned that all those implicated would be handed over to prosecutors and would face the full force of the law.
In a separate statement, the minister praised the country’s intelligence services, crediting their professionalism with preventing what he described as yet another attempt to destabilise Burkina Faso.
The alleged plot is the latest in a series of claims of attempts to remove Captain Traoré, who himself seized power in 2022 after overthrowing Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba.
Since that takeover, Burkina Faso has experienced persistent political uncertainty, with repeated reports of coup attempts and ongoing security challenges.
in Saturday, social media posts about a plot to destabilize Burkina Faso’s institutions prompted people to take to the streets to help stop it.
Amid worsening security, Traore seized power on Sept. 30, 2022, ousting Damiba, who had overthrown President Roch Marc Christian Kabore just eight months before.
