Burkina Faso’s military government says it foiled a “major plot” to overthrow Ibrahim Traoré, junta leader, last week.
Speaking on Monday, Mahamadou Sana, security minister, alleged that the plotters were based in neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire.
Sana said the attempt was led by current and former soldiers working with “terrorist leaders”.
The aim of the plan was to “sow total chaos, and place the country under the supervision of an international organisation”, he said.
“The manoeuvre was to culminate, according to the terrorist plotters’ plan, on Wednesday 16 April, 2025 in an assault on the presidency of (Burkina) Faso by a group of soldiers recruited by the nation’s enemies,” he added.
“The brains outside the country are all located in Ivory Coast.”
Sana also said the plotters attempted to use Burkinabe religious and traditional leaders to sway army officers into backing the plan.
He said “sensitive information was passed on to terrorists” to increase attacks on the military and civilians and “incite a revolt against the authorities”.
The development is the latest in a series of coup attempt claims from the military-led, French-speaking West African country.
Burkina Faso, alongside two other military-led states – Mali and Niger — broke away from the regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to form a new alliance.
They also distanced themselves from their traditional Western allies — France and the United States — turning instead to Russia, partly due to frustrations over an alleged lack of progress in combating terrorism.
Since Traoré seized power in 2022, there have been several claims of attempts to remove him amid increasing militant attacks.
Côte d’Ivoire is yet to comment on the claims that it hosted the plotters.
It would also not be the first time that Ouagadougou has accused its southern neighbour of supporting its opponents.(The Cable)
