Burkina Faso’s military government says it has disrupted a major attempt to overthrow junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
Authorities claim the plot was organized by soldiers with help from jihadist groups, and that the operation was being directed from neighboring Ivory Coast.
The announcement came Monday through a televised statement by Security Minister Mahamadou Sana. According to him, both current and former members of the military were involved, and their goal was to attack the presidential palace and create instability across the country. The government believes the plan aimed to push Burkina Faso under the control of an unnamed international body.
The coup attempt reportedly took place last week, but details were only made public now. It involved attempts to recruit support from within the army by using traditional and religious leaders to persuade military officers to join the effort. Officials say the attack on the presidency was scheduled for April 16, but was stopped before it could be carried out.
Two former army officers, now believed to be in Ivory Coast, are suspected of coordinating the operation. Authorities also say those involved had shared classified information with terrorist groups to encourage more attacks on civilians and the military, in hopes of turning public opinion against the current government.
Several individuals, including military officers, were arrested last week in connection with the plot. The government says it acted swiftly to neutralize the threat before it could escalate.
Ivory Coast has not responded to the accusations, but tensions between the two countries have been rising. Burkina Faso’s leaders have previously accused their southern neighbor of sheltering political opponents and hostile elements.
This is not the first time the military government in Ouagadougou has claimed to stop a coup. Similar allegations were made last November, also tied to efforts to “destabilize” the regime. Since Captain Traoré seized power in 2022, multiple threats have been reported amid worsening security conditions.
Burkina Faso continues to face deadly violence from armed jihadist groups, which now control large parts of the country. The military-led government had promised to restore order and shifted its alliances, cutting ties with France and partnering more closely with Russia.
Alongside Mali and Niger, Burkina Faso has exited the West African bloc ECOWAS and joined a new regional alliance. All three nations are now ruled by military governments and are seeking to redefine their foreign partnerships while dealing with internal conflict.