Burkina Faso’s military have managed to trample an attempt to kill the country’s leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
Reports from the West African country intimate that the plan to assassinate Traoré had been hatched by Lt Col Paul Henri Damiba, a military officer who was ousted by the former in September 2022.
The same was confirmed by Burkina Faso security minister, Mahamadou Sana, in a late-night broadcast on Tuesday, January 6, 2025.
A plot to kill Burkina Faso’s military leader, Capt Ibrahim Traoré, has been thwarted, the West African nation has announced.
“Our intelligence services intercepted this operation in the final hours. They had planned to assassinate the head of state and then strike other key institutions, including civilian personalities,” Mahamadou Sana said.
Mahamadou further alleged that the plot had been funded from neighbouring Ivory Coast.
Neither Ivory Coast nor Damiba has addressed the accusations.
This is not the first murder attempt on Traoré, Nairobi News understands.
Traoré has survived at least two coup attempts since capturing power.
The leader has also been grappling with growing jihadist violence that has forced millions from their homes.
Despite these challenges and his authoritarian reputation, the 37-year-old military leader maintains strong popular support and has gained a following across the continent for his pan-Africanist vision and criticism of Western influence.
According to the country’s security minister, authorities unearthed a leaked video showing the plotters discussing their plans prior to the attempt.
In the footage, the plotters allegedly spoke about how they intended to assassinate Traoré.
The planners planned to either assassinate him at close range or by planting explosives at his residence, just after 23:00 local time on Saturday, 3 January.
They also allegedly planned to target other senior military and civilian figures.
Security minister Mahamadou Sana further alleged that Damiba had mobilised both soldiers and civilian supporters, secured foreign funding, most significantly, $125,000 received from Ivory Coast.
He noted that there was a planned mission to knock out the country’s drone-launch base before foreign forces could intervene.
“We are carrying out ongoing investigations and have made several arrests. These individuals will be brought to justice soon,” the minister said.
Sana, however, stated that the tense situation was under control and urged citizens “not to be misled, out of naivety, into dangerous schemes”.
It is not clear how many people have been arrested so far following the botched coup.
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