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