Burkina Faso Junta Says It Foiled Assassination Plot Against Leader Traoré

Burkina Faso’s military government said it has foiled an alleged plot to assassinate President Ibrahim Traoré and destabilise the country, the BBC reports.

The country’s Minister of Security, Mahamadou Sana, announced that the plot, which was reportedly planned for January 3, had been uncovered and neutralised by security forces.

Sana said the alleged scheme included plans to kill Captain Traoré and plunge the country into further political instability.

According to the minister, the plot was masterminded by former leader Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, whom Traoré overthrew in a coup in September 2022.

Sana further alleged that the operation was financed from abroad, including neighbouring Ivory Coast.

Sana added that investigations were ongoing and arrests had been made in connection with the alleged plot.

He did not provide details on the number of suspects detained or the precise manner in which the plan was thwarted.

There has been no immediate reaction from the Ivorian authorities to the accusations, and Lieutenant-Colonel Damiba has not publicly commented on the claims.

Captain Traoré has faced several alleged coup attempts since taking power, with the ruling military junta repeatedly accusing individuals operating from outside Burkina Faso of seeking to overthrow his government.

In previous instances, the authorities have also pointed fingers at Ivory Coast, allegations which Abidjan has consistently denied.

Burkina Faso has experienced persistent political instability in recent years, marked by successive coups and a worsening security crisis linked to militant insurgency.