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FAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
FAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
By: Zagazola Makama
The government of Burkina Faso has announced the foiling of an attempted coup allegedly involving President Ibrahim Traoré’s Chief of Staff and a network of foreign and local actors, in what authorities describe as a sophisticated plot to assassinate the junta leader and destabilize the Sahel nation.
The accused high-ranking official, whose name has not been officially disclosed, was arrested after reportedly confessing to accepting a bribe of 25 billion CFA francs (approx. $41 million USD) and an arms shipment allegedly facilitated through Côte d’Ivoire with French involvement.
The plot, uncovered through a military-led internal investigation, was said to be in the advanced planning stages. The confession reportedly links foreign powers to the destabilization attempt, with security sources accusing France Burkina Faso’s former colonial ruler of channeling weapons through Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara’s network. The French and Ivorian governments have not responded to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.
“This is a grave betrayal of national sovereignty,” the Ministry of Security said in a statement. “The Burkinabé people remain resolute and united behind President Ibrahim Traoré, whose leadership continues to command overwhelming support in our fight against insecurity and external manipulation.”
The revelation has triggered increased security in Ouagadougou and its environs, with checkpoints erected across key routes and military deployments strengthened at sensitive installations. The government says nine individuals, including foreign nationals, have so far been arrested in connection to the attempted coup.
Since assuming power in 2022, Captain Ibrahim Traoré has charted a new course in Burkina Faso’s foreign relations, distancing from Western powers particularly France and deepening strategic and military ties with Russia and fellow juntas in Mali and Niger under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
This realignment has heightened tensions in West Africa, with regional power blocs increasingly split between pro-Western governments and military-led regimes advocating self-determination and reduced foreign interference. Security experts suggest that Traoré’s pivot and strong anti-colonial rhetoric may have provoked foreign interests seeking to retain influence in the mineral-rich nation.
However, Zagazola could not independently verify the claims of external funding or logistical support to the coup plotters.
Burkina Faso has faced growing insecurity with large portions of its territory under the control of jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Multiple coups, the most recent in 2022, have reflected the country’s fragile political climate and rising frustration over government inaction. Traoré’s administration has pursued aggressive counter-insurgency campaigns and citizen mobilization, gaining popularity among some segments of the population but also drawing criticism for limited democratic oversight.
Zagazola Makama is a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad Region
FAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
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Two soldiers under probe for alleged collaboration with ISWAP terrorists, leaking troops movement in Yobe
Two soldiers under probe for alleged collaboration with ISWAP terrorists, leaking troops movement in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Two soldiers of the 135 Special Forces Battalion are currently under investigation for alleged collaboration with ISWAP terrorists, Zagazola Makama has learnt.
Military sources told Zagazola Makama that the soldiers’ telephone communications were tracked by Security Intelligence, linking them to the recent kidnapping of commuters along the Gashua–Azare highway in Yobe State.
The intercepted calls reportedly indicated that the suspects likely leaked the movement of a patrol team along the Buratai–Kamuya–Azare–Gashua route to the insurgents, enabling the ambush.
It was gathered that the suspected leak contributed to the terrorists’ operation, which was later foiled by troops of the 135 SF Battalion during a swift rescue mission on May 9
Two soldiers under probe for alleged collaboration with ISWAP terrorists, leaking troops movement in Yobe
Troops rescue four kidnapped commuters in Yobe, foil ISWAP terrorist ambush
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion under Operation Desert Sanity IV have rescued four kidnapped civilians from ISWAP terrorists following a swift counter-offensive along the Gashua–Azare highway in Yobe State.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama on Saturday that the operation was carried out at about 6:10 p.m. on Friday, May 9, after intelligence reports indicated that insurgents had abducted travelers while riding on 15 motorcycles.
Quick Response Forces (QRF) from the battalion, swiftly mobilised to the area and engaged the terrorists in a heavy exchange of gunfire.
“The troops overpowered the terrorists, forcing them to retreat in disarray and abandon one motorcycle,” the source said.
The soldiers pursued the insurgents up to 6 kilometers from the ambush point, leading to the successful rescue of four abducted civilians. Items recovered from the scene included a pumping machine, a motorcycle tube, a plier, and three spanners.
Troops rescue four kidnapped commuters in Yobe, foil ISWAP terrorist ambush
Zulum orders immediate ban on the sale of fuel in Bama LGA
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has ordered an immediate ban on the sale of fuel (petrol) in filling stations across Bama Local Government Area, including Bama town and Banki.
The ban was issued after due consultations with security agencies in the state and is aimed at addressing the prevailing security challenges in the state.
In a statement on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dauda Iliya, the measure is part of the state government’s strategic response to counter insurgency operations.
“I have directed the immediate ban on the sale of petrol in Bama town, Banki, and other parts of Bama Local Government Area with immediate effect,” Governor Zulum stated.
He warned that anyone found violating the directive would face the full weight of the law.
“Let me make it clear—there will be no sacred cows in the enforcement of this ban. Security agencies have been given strict orders to clamp down on any filling station or individual contravening this directive. Anyone found culpable will be dealt with accordingly,” he warned.
Governor Zulum reiterated his administration’s commitment to restoring lasting peace in the state and called for the support and cooperation of citizens in the ongoing fight against insurgency.
Zulum orders immediate ban on the sale of fuel in Bama LGA
Two soldiers under probe for alleged collaboration with ISWAP terrorists, leaking troops movement in Yobe
Troops rescue four kidnapped commuters in Yobe, foil ISWAP terrorist ambush
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