Burkina Faso’s military-led government says it has foiled an alleged plot to assassinate President Ibrahim Traoré and destabilise the country, marking the latest in a series of reported threats against the junta leader since he seized power in 2022.
Security Minister Mahamadou Sana on Tuesday claimed the plot was orchestrated by former president Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba, whom Captain Traoré ousted in a military takeover two years ago. Sana further alleged that the plan was financed from neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire, accusations that risk deepening diplomatic tensions in the region.
“The objective was to eliminate the Head of State and plunge the country into chaos,” Sana said in a televised address, adding that several suspects linked to the alleged plot had been arrested.
There was no immediate response from Côte d’Ivoire or from Damiba, who has been living outside Burkina Faso since his removal from power. Ivorian authorities have previously denied involvement in Burkina Faso’s internal political disputes.
Captain Traoré has faced multiple alleged coup and assassination attempts since assuming office, with his administration repeatedly accusing external actors—particularly Côte d’Ivoire—of backing dissidents seeking to overthrow the regime.
The latest claims come amid persistent political instability in Burkina Faso and across the wider Sahel region, where a wave of military coups has reshaped governance.
Traoré’s government has adopted a strongly anti-Western stance, cutting ties with traditional allies while strengthening relations with Russia and fellow military-led governments in Mali and Niger.
Analysts say the repeated allegations underscore the fragility of Burkina Faso’s security situation and ongoing divisions within the country’s political and military elite.
However, no independent verification of the alleged plot has been provided, and regional observers have urged restraint as relations between Ouagadougou and Abidjan remain strained.
