Faith Nyasuguta
Burkina Faso’s military government has announced that it has foiled what it described as yet another attempt to destabilise the country and assassinate President Captain Ibrahim Traore. The Security Minister, Mahamadou Sana, made the claims during a televised address on national state television (RTB), saying intelligence services uncovered and stopped the plot before it could be executed.
According to the security minister, the alleged plan was set to unfold on the night of January 3, 2026 at around 23:00 local time (GMT). The government claims the conspirators intended to launch a series of targeted assassinations against key civilian and military leaders, beginning with a direct attempt on the life of President Traore, either by shooting him at close range or by planting explosives at his residence.
The plot was described as part of a broader operation that would have seen further actions, including neutralising the country’s drone base and a planned military intervention by external forces after the initial phase.
Alleged Mastermind: Former Leader Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba
The government has publicly identified Lieutenant-Colonel (ret.) Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, the former transitional president of Burkina Faso who was deposed by Traore in September 2022, as the principal architect of the alleged plot. Damiba, who now lives in exile in Togo, is accused of having planned, financed, and organised the operation, as well as of recruiting both military personnel and civilians to participate.
Minister Sana said that Damiba’s role included not just conceptualising the plot, but also raising and mobilising funds, identifying potential collaborators, and establishing operational cells designed to carry out the coup attempt. The minister added that many of those involved had been arrested and were being detained, and that video recordings of confessions from some suspects would be released by authorities.
Accusations of External Support
Burkina Faso’s government has also pointed fingers at neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire, alleging that a substantial portion of the financing for the plot originated there. Minister Sana claimed that a significant transfer of funds -around 70million CFA francs (roughly €106,000) – was traced to sources linked to Cote d’Ivoire in connection with the attempted coup.
At the time of writing, neither Damiba nor the Ivorian government has publicly responded to the accusations made by Ouagadougou. Past instances in recent years have seen similar claims by Burkinabe authorities against regional actors, with neighbouring states – including Cóte d’Ivoire – previously denying involvement in earlier alleged coup attempts.
Political Instability
This latest allegation comes against a backdrop of persistent political instability in Burkina Faso since September 2022, when Traore’s forces overthrew Damiba in a military coup. Since then, the junta has repeatedly warned of ongoing plots and “destabilisation attempts,” often linking them to external actors or former officials. Observers note that such claims have been part of a pattern of political tension within the country, where successive coups since 2021 have reflected deeper fractures in the military and governance structures.
Traore’s government has emphasised that security services are in control and has urged the public to remain calm. Authorities insist that all those implicated in the alleged plot will be brought before the courts to face charges.
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