The military government of Burkina Faso has announced that it has foiled an alleged plot to kill President Ibrahim Traore and undermine national stability.
The allegation was made by the country’s security minister, Mahamadou Sana, who said the plot was organised by Paul-Henri Damiba, the former head of state ousted in a military takeover in 2022.
According to the minister, the alleged plan involved elements both inside and outside Burkina Faso and was intended to trigger wider instability. He further claimed that the operation was financed from Ivory Coast.
As of the time of reporting, no evidence has been made public to support the claims. There has also been no official response from the government of Ivory Coast or from Lieutenant-Colonel Damiba regarding the allegations.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of repeated claims by Burkina Faso’s military authorities that President Traore has been the target of several coup and assassination attempts since he took power. In previous instances, the government has accused foreign actors, including Ivory Coast, of playing a role in efforts to destabilise the country. Those accusations have been denied or not formally addressed by the governments concerned.
Burkina Faso has been under military rule since 2022, amid growing insecurity linked to armed insurgent violence and political instability. The authorities have regularly cited internal and external threats as justification for tightened security measures and arrests.
It remains unclear whether any arrests have been made in connection with the latest alleged plot or what legal steps, if any, will follow. Independent verification of the claims has not yet been possible, and the allegations remain untested.
The situation continues to be closely watched in the region, given concerns about political stability, military rule, and cross-border tensions in West Africa.