Burkina Faso’s military government has announced the foiling of a sophisticated plot to assassinate its leader, Capt Ibrahim Traoré, allegedly orchestrated by his ousted predecessor and funded from neighbouring Ivory Coast. The security minister revealed that intelligence services intercepted the operation in its final hours, preventing a planned attack on January 3.
The plot was hatched by Lt Col Paul Henri Damiba, the military officer who was overthrown by Traoré in September 2022. According to Minister Mahamadou Sana, the conspirators intended to kill Traoré either at close range or by planting explosives at his residence just after 23:00 local time on Saturday. After the assassination, they planned to target other senior military and civilian figures, aiming to destabilize key institutions.
Authorities uncovered a leaked video in which the plotters discussed their plans in detail. Sana alleged that Damiba had mobilized both soldiers and civilian supporters, and secured significant foreign funding, most notably 70 million CFA francs (approximately $125,000) delivered from Ivory Coast. The plan also included knocking out the country’s drone-launch base to prevent foreign intervention.
In response, the government has made several arrests and is conducting ongoing investigations. Sana stated on national television that those involved will be brought to justice soon, and he urged citizens not to be misled into dangerous schemes. The exact number of arrests remains unclear, but the minister insisted that the situation is under control.
This incident occurs against the backdrop of Traoré’s rise to power, which followed his ousting of Damiba, who had himself seized control from an elected government earlier in 2022. Damiba is currently in exile in Togo, and there has been no immediate comment from him or from Ivory Coast regarding the allegations of involvement.
Since taking power, Traoré has faced multiple challenges, including at least two previous coup attempts and a severe jihadist insurgency that has displaced millions of people. Despite these threats and accusations of authoritarianism, the 37-year-old leader maintains strong popular support, largely due to his pan-Africanist rhetoric and criticism of Western influence in the region.
The junta has previously accused Ivory Coast of interfering in Burkina Faso’s internal affairs, and this latest allegation is likely to heighten regional tensions. Critics, both local and international, have accused Traoré’s government of suppressing dissent through arbitrary arrests and media restrictions, but officials defend their actions as necessary for national security. As investigations continue, the event underscores the fragile political landscape in Burkina Faso and the broader Sahel region, where military regimes are increasingly common.
