Burkina Faso’s military government announced Monday it had thwarted a plot to overthrow the regime and plunge the nation into chaos.
Security Minister Mahamadou Sana revealed the plan involved an armed assault on the presidency, orchestrated by a network of soldiers allegedly recruited by foreign enemies.
The coup attempt was reportedly scheduled for April 16 and aimed to destabilize the country’s leadership with military force.
Sana stated that Burkina Faso’s intelligence service uncovered the scheme, calling it a “major plot in the making” with roots beyond national borders.
Authorities accused two former army officers—Major Joanny Compaore and Lieutenant Abdramane Barry—of masterminding the operation from neighboring Ivory Coast.
The junta has long claimed that the Ivory Coast harbors opposition figures and serves as a hub for anti-government activities.
A dozen military personnel, including two officers, were arrested last week on suspicion of participating in the coup plot.
Captain Ibrahim Traore, who seized power in September 2022, has vowed to restore order but faces growing dissent and rising insecurity.
His government has been criticized for silencing critics and carrying out kidnappings and extrajudicial detentions of perceived opponents.
Burkina Faso has struggled with violence since 2015, facing attacks from groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Tensions between the West African neighbors continue to mount, with Traore branding Ivory Coast a “center of operations” against his rule.
The junta’s latest claim underscores the fragile state of governance in a nation grappling with insurgency and political unrest.
