The military government of Burkina Faso announced that it successfully thwarted a significant coup attempt against junta leader Capt Ibrahim Traoré, accusing both current and former soldiers of colluding with terrorist factions in neighboring Ivory Coast. Officials described the planned coup as an effort to provoke chaos and potentially place the nation under international oversight.
Burkina Faso Thwarts Major Coup Attempt Amid Ongoing Security Crisis
Burkina Faso Thwarts Major Coup Attempt Amid Ongoing Security Crisis
Burkina Faso's military claims to have intercepted a coup plot aimed at overthrowing junta leader Capt Ibrahim Traoré, allegedly orchestrated by ex-soldiers in Ivory Coast.
Security Minister Mahamadou Sana disclosed on Monday that the plotters aimed to execute an assault on the presidential palace last week, leveraging support from local religious leaders to recruit military personnel into their cause. This attempt adds to the series of allegations against individuals trying to destabilize Traoré's regime, which came to power during a wave of jihadist violence in 2022. Despite assurances of improved security measures and an inclination towards new partnerships, including those with Russia, Burkina Faso continues to face grave challenges posed by insurgents controlling vast regions of the country.
The plot reportedly was set to culminate in a military attack aimed at the presidency on April 16, 2025, guided by plotters based in Ivory Coast, according to Sana. He noted that crucial intelligence provided to terrorist entities was intended to amplify assaults on both military and civilian targets and provoke uprisings against the current government. Following the attempted coup, several military personnel are known to have been arrested for their involvement in plans to disrupt the government.
The situation takes place amid increasing criticisms of the Burkinabe junta’s reliance on external partnerships and a noticeable shift in allegiance from former colonial influences in favor of alliances with Russia. Burkina Faso has also forged closer ties with fellow military-led nations, including Mali and Niger, distancing itself from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The Ivorian government has yet to comment on the allegations regarding the coup plotters residing in their territory.
As challenges mount against the junta's authority, the recent thwarted coup emphasizes the ongoing instability that grips the country grappling with an insurgency that continues to threaten its governance and security.
The plot reportedly was set to culminate in a military attack aimed at the presidency on April 16, 2025, guided by plotters based in Ivory Coast, according to Sana. He noted that crucial intelligence provided to terrorist entities was intended to amplify assaults on both military and civilian targets and provoke uprisings against the current government. Following the attempted coup, several military personnel are known to have been arrested for their involvement in plans to disrupt the government.
The situation takes place amid increasing criticisms of the Burkinabe junta’s reliance on external partnerships and a noticeable shift in allegiance from former colonial influences in favor of alliances with Russia. Burkina Faso has also forged closer ties with fellow military-led nations, including Mali and Niger, distancing itself from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The Ivorian government has yet to comment on the allegations regarding the coup plotters residing in their territory.
As challenges mount against the junta's authority, the recent thwarted coup emphasizes the ongoing instability that grips the country grappling with an insurgency that continues to threaten its governance and security.
