Godsent Ogbebor
Burkina Faso Says It Foiled Plot to Kill President Ibrahim Traoré
Burkina Faso’s military government has announced that it has foiled an alleged plot to assassinate President Ibrahim Traoré and destabilise the country, accusing plotters of receiving external funding from neighbouring Ivory Coast.
The country’s Security Minister, Mahamadou Sana, disclosed the development on Tuesday, saying intelligence services intercepted the plan before it could be carried out.
According to the minister, the plot was in its “advanced stages” and involved plans to target President Traoré, as well as other military and civilian figures, in what authorities described as a coordinated attempt to overthrow the current leadership .
Sana further alleged that the operation was financed from Ivory Coast, with funds reportedly channelled to support logistics and recruitment. He claimed that about 70 million CFA francs were earmarked for the plot, though he did not provide documentary evidence during the announcement.
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The Burkinabè authorities also accused former military leader Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who was ousted in a 2022 coup led by Traoré, of being behind the alleged plot. Damiba is believed to be living outside the country .
As of the time of filing this report, neither the government of Ivory Coast nor Damiba has responded publicly to the allegations.
Security officials said several suspects had been arrested and investigations were ongoing, while assuring citizens that the situation was under control and that national security had not been compromised .
Meanwhile, Burkina Faso has experienced repeated political instability in recent years, including two coups in 2022, amid a worsening security crisis linked to militant violence. The military government has previously claimed to have uncovered similar plots aimed at undermining the transition authorities.
