By Mustapha Muhammad
Burkina Faso’s military government says it has uncovered and stopped a significant coup plot aimed at overthrowing junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
In a televised statement on Monday, Security Minister Mahamadou Sana disclosed that active and former soldiers had allegedly collaborated with militant groups to attack the presidential palace.
“The plotters had set their sights on 16 April for a direct assault on the presidency. They had been recruiting soldiers and passing strategic information to terrorist elements to fuel unrest and incite rebellion,” Sana stated.
He claimed the conspirators sought to destabilize the nation and establish a new government controlled by an unnamed international organization.
Sana also accused the plotters of attempting to influence military officials through religious and traditional leaders to gain backing for their scheme.
According to the minister, the alleged ringleaders were operating from neighboring Ivory Coast, with two ex-army officers identified as key figures. So far, Ivorian authorities have not commented on the accusations.
The announcement comes after security sources told AFP that several military personnel, including two officers, were arrested last week over suspicions of plotting against the regime.
This marks the latest in a series of reported coup attempts since Traoré took power in 2022 amid widespread frustration over jihadist violence.
Despite shifting alliances from France to Russia for enhanced security cooperation, Burkina Faso continues to face frequent deadly attacks by extremist groups.
Recently, the country—along with Mali and Niger—exited the West African bloc ECOWAS, forming a new alliance of military-ruled states, citing shared security challenges and ideological alignment.
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