A plot to assassinate Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has been foiled, the West African country has announced.
This sophisticated plan had been drawn up by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Henri Damiba, the military officer ousted by Traoré in September 2022, the security minister said in a late-night show.
“Our intelligence services intercepted this operation in the last hours. They had planned to assassinate the head of state and then strike other key institutions, including civilian figures,” said Mahamadou Sana, further claiming that the plot had been financed from neighboring Ivory Coast.
There was no comment from either Col Damiba or Ivory Coast.
Since taking power, Captain Traoré has faced at least two coup attempts and is also grappling with growing jihadist violence that has forced millions of people from their homes.
Despite these challenges and his authoritarian reputation, the 37-year-old military leader enjoys strong popular support and has gained supporters across the continent for his pan-Africanist vision and criticism of Western influence.
According to the security minister, authorities discovered a leaked video showing the conspirators discussing their plans.
In the footage, they reportedly explained how they intended to assassinate the president – either at point blank range or by planting explosives in his residence – just after 11 p.m. local time on Saturday, January 3.
They then allegedly planned to attack other high-ranking military and civilian figures.
Sana claimed that Damiba mobilized both soldiers and civilians, secured foreign funding – most importantly 70 million CFA francs ($125,000) delivered from Ivory Coast – and planned to destroy the country’s drone launch base before foreign forces could intervene.
“We are carrying out ongoing investigations and have made several arrests. These individuals will soon be brought to justice,” the minister said on national television.
Sana insisted the situation was under control and urged citizens “not to let themselves be drawn into dangerous projects out of naivety.”
It is unclear how many people were arrested.
Critics, both local and foreign, have accused Traore of authoritarianism and say his government suppresses dissent – including arbitrary arrests of military officers and restrictions on the media.
This is not the first time that the junta has pointed the finger at foreign interference in its affairs in Ivory Coast.
These persistent internal power struggles will further increase regional tensions.
Colonel Damiba served as leader of Burkina Faso from January to September 2022 after taking power following an elected government.
After being ousted, he went into exile in neighboring Togo and declared in a message published on social networks that he wished his successor every success.
