Burkina Faso Foils Coup Plot Against Military Leader

Burkina Faso’s military government on Monday announced it had thwarted a “major plot” to overthrow junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré, alleging the conspiracy involved plans to assassinate the head of state and was orchestrated from neighboring Ivory Coast. The claims have intensified longstanding speculations about repeated attempts to target Traoré, who seized power in a 2022 coup.

Security Minister Mahamadou Sana disclosed on state television that the alleged plotters, comprising active and former Burkinabe soldiers collaborating with “terrorist leaders”—planned to storm the presidential palace on April 16, 2025, in an assault widely interpreted as an attempt to assassinate Traoré. “The aim was to sow chaos and place Burkina Faso under foreign supervision,” Sana declared, accusing the conspirators of seeking to incite a nationwide revolt. 

This marks the latest in a string of alleged destabilization efforts against Traoré’s regime. Security analysts and regional observers have repeatedly speculated about assassination risks facing the junta leader, citing prior foiled plots and mounting internal dissent. While Sana did not explicitly confirm prior assassination plans, his reference to a direct assault on the presidency has fueled suspicions that eliminating Traoré was central to the plot. 

Sana alleged that the plotters operated from Ivory Coast, singling out two exiled former Burkinabe army officers as masterminds. The Ivorian government has yet to respond, though Burkina Faso has frequently accused its southern neighbor of harboring anti-junta exiles. 

Authorities claim the conspirators recruited religious and traditional leaders to sway military loyalties and leaked sensitive intelligence to jihadists to intensify attacks on civilians and security forces. Last week, Burkinabe security forces arrested several soldiers, including two officers, for alleged ties to the scheme. 

Burkina Faso remains gripped by a worsening security crisis, with jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS controlling nearly 40% of the country. Despite Traoré’s pledges to restore stability—including forging new military partnerships with Russia—insurgent attacks have persisted unabated. The Sahel region accounts for over half of global terrorism-related deaths, according to recent UN data. 

Traoré’s rise to power in September 2022 marked Burkina Faso’s second coup in eight months, signalling the military’s fraying patience with civilian governance amid rampant insecurity. Since then, his regime has faced multiple alleged coup attempts, including a “destabilization” plot foiled in November 2023. 

The junta has moved to assert itself, expelling French forces and joining Mali and Niger in exiting the West African bloc ECOWAS to form the Russia-aligned Alliance of Sahel States. Critics argue the shift has further destabilized the region, while Traoré’s government insists it seeks “sovereign” solutions to the crisis. 

For now, Traoré retains power—but the shadows of coups and assassination attempts loom large.