By Abiola Olawale
Panic escalated in Burkina Faso on Tuesday as the country’s military government announced that it had thwarted a “major plot” to overthrow the government of Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
The failed coup, allegedly orchestrated from neighbouring Ivory Coast, has reportedly heightened tensions in the West African country, which has been grappling with jihadist violence and political instability.
According to Burkina Faso’s Security Minister Mahamadou Sana, the coup was set to culminate in an assault on the presidency on April 16, by a group of soldiers allegedly recruited by foreign interests.
Sana claimed that intercepted communications revealed so far how military personnel and former soldiers have been leaking troop positions and operational details to armed groups.
He asserted: “The manoeuvre was to culminate, according to the terrorist plotters’ plan, on Wednesday, 16 April 2025, in an assault on the presidency of (Burkina) Faso by a group of soldiers recruited by the nation’s enemies.
“The brains outside the country are all located in Ivory Coast.
“Sensitive information was passed on to “terrorists” to increase attacks on the military and civilians and “incite a revolt against the authorities”.
Recall that Burkina Faso has been under military rule since Captain Traoré seized power in September 2022, capitalizing on public discontent over rising jihadist violence.
Traoré’s junta promised to restore security but has faced criticism for silencing dissent and failing to curb insurgencies linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
