Burkina Faso’s ruling military authorities say they have foiled an assassination plot targeting junta leader Capt. Ibrahim Traoré, alleging the operation was orchestrated by his predecessor, Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba.
Security Minister Mahamadou Sana said in a late-night national broadcast that intelligence services disrupted the plot in its final stages, claiming the conspirators planned to assassinate Traoré before launching coordinated attacks on key military and civilian institutions.
Sana alleged that the plan was financed from neighboring Ivory Coast, an accusation neither Damiba nor Ivorian authorities have publicly addressed.
According to the minister, investigators uncovered a leaked video in which the alleged plotters discussed methods to kill the head of state, including a close-range attack or the planting of explosives at Traoré’s residence. The assassination was reportedly scheduled for shortly after 11:00 p.m. local time on Saturday, January 3.
The plot allegedly included plans to target senior military officers and civilian figures following the killing, as well as an operation to disable Burkina Faso’s drone-launch base to prevent foreign intervention. Sana claimed the group secured approximately 70 million CFA francs ($125,000) in foreign funding and recruited both soldiers and civilian supporters.
Authorities have made multiple arrests, though the exact number has not been disclosed. Sana said investigations are ongoing and that those involved would be brought to justice, urging citizens not to be drawn into what he described as dangerous schemes.
Capt. Traoré, 37, seized power in September 2022 after ousting Damiba and has since survived at least two reported coup attempts. His government faces growing jihadist violence that has displaced millions, alongside criticism from rights groups over alleged authoritarian practices, including arrests of military officers and restrictions on media freedom.
Despite these concerns, Traoré retains strong domestic support and has gained wider attention across Africa for his pan-Africanist rhetoric and criticism of Western influence.
Damiba ruled Burkina Faso from January to September 2022 after overthrowing an elected government. Following his removal, he went into exile in Togo and later issued a message wishing his successor success.
The latest allegations are expected to further strain regional relations, particularly between Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast, amid ongoing political instability in the Sahel.