Burkina Faso’s military government says it has successfully disrupted a major coup plot that was allegedly intended to overthrow junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
According to Security Minister Mahamadou Sana, the operation involved both serving and former military personnel, who are accused of conspiring with terrorist networks to destabilise the country.
The group reportedly planned to storm the presidential compound and create widespread disorder, ultimately pushing the country into foreign oversight. Though the scheme was intercepted last week, details were only made public recently.
Authorities believe the plot received backing from beyond Burkina Faso’s borders, with specific accusations directed at neighbouring Ivory Coast.
Sana named two former military officers, allegedly operating from outside the country, as the masterminds of the coup.
Several soldiers have been detained on charges of leaking confidential information to extremist groups and attempting to sway fellow officers against the government.
Officials say the plotters even enlisted religious and traditional leaders to influence military commanders.
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The attempted coup was allegedly timed for execution on April 16, 2025, with Sana characterizing the effort as a deliberate and well-coordinated move, not merely a rogue initiative.
This marks yet another threat to Captain Traoré’s leadership, which began in 2022 after he assumed power during a period of intensifying jihadist violence.
Nearly 40% of the national territory is currently said to be under the control of insurgent forces, despite the government’s pivot from France to Russia for military cooperation.
Relations in the region remain tense, particularly with Ivory Coast, which the junta accuses of providing refuge to political opponents and contributing to internal instability.
In response to these tensions, Burkina Faso, along with fellow military-led nations Mali and Niger, has withdrawn from the West African bloc ECOWAS and established a new alliance that reflects their shift toward more assertive and independent governance.
