Burkina Faso foils assassination plot against military leader

Burkina Faso’s authorities have thwarted a plot to assassinate the country’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, security officials announced, in what marks the latest in a series of internal power struggles facing the West African nation, BBC reports.

The alleged plan, according to Security Minister Mahamadou Sana, was orchestrated by Lt Col Paul Henri Damiba, the former military officer who was ousted by Traoré in September 2022. Speaking in a late-night broadcast, Sana said, “Our intelligence services intercepted this operation in the final hours. They had planned to assassinate the head of state and then strike other key institutions, including civilian personalities.”

He further alleged that the plot had received funding from neighboring Ivory Coast.

Authorities said they uncovered a leaked video showing the plotters discussing their plans. In the footage, the perpetrators allegedly outlined intentions to kill the president either at close range or by planting explosives at his residence shortly after 23:00 local time on January 3. Following Traoré’s assassination, they reportedly intended to target other senior military and civilian figures.

Sana claimed that Damiba had mobilized both soldiers and civilian supporters, secured foreign funding — reportedly 70 million CFA francs ($125,000; £92,000) delivered from Ivory Coast — and planned to disable the country’s drone-launch base before foreign forces could intervene. “We are carrying out ongoing investigations and have made several arrests. These individuals will be brought to justice soon,” the minister said on national television. He added that the situation was under control and urged citizens “not to be misled, out of naivety, into dangerous schemes.”

It is not yet clear how many individuals have been detained. Neither Col Damiba nor Ivory Coast have commented on the allegations.

Since seizing power, Captain Traoré has faced at least two coup attempts and is contending with growing jihadist violence that has displaced millions of residents. Despite his authoritarian reputation, the 37-year-old military leader enjoys strong popular support at home and has attracted a following across the continent for his pan-Africanist vision and criticism of Western influence.

Critics, both domestic and international, have accused Traoré of suppressing dissent, including arbitrary arrests of military officers and restrictions on the media. This latest incident continues a pattern of internal power struggles that analysts say could exacerbate regional instability.

Col Damiba served as Burkina Faso’s leader from January to September 2022 after seizing power from an elected government. Following his ouster, he went into exile in neighboring Togo and published a message on social media wishing his successor “every success.”

By Vafa Guliyeva