By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A plot to kill Burkina Faso’s military leader, Capt Ibrahim Traoré, has been thwarted, authorities in the West African nation announce.
The sophisticated plan hatched by Lt Col Paul Henri Damiba, the military officer ousted by Traoré in September 2022, the security minister said in a late-night broadcast on Tuesday.
“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,” said Mahamadou Sana, who further alleged that the plot had been funded from the neighbouring Ivory Coast.
Since seizing power, Capt Traoré has faced at least two coup attempts, in addition to growing jihadist violence that has displaced millions of persons from their homes.
Despite these challenges, the 37-year-old military leader enjoys strong popular support and has gained a following across the continent especially among the youth population for his pan-Africanist vision and criticism of Western undue influence.
Authorities have uncovered a leaked video showing the plotters discussing their plans, the security minister claimed.
In the footage they allegedly spoke about how they intended to assassinate the junta leader, either at close range or by planting explosives at his residence – just after 23:00 local time on Saturday 3 January.
Afterwards they allegedly planned to target other senior military and civilian figures.
The minister alleged that Damiba had mobilised both soldiers and civilian supporters, secured foreign funding – most significantly 70m CFA francs ($125,000; £92,000) delivered from Ivory Coast – and planned 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 in a televised interview.
Sana insisted the 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.
Critics, both local and foreign, have accused Traoré of authoritarianism and say his government suppresses dissent – including arbitrary arrests of military officers and restrictions on the media.
Col Damiba served as Burkina Faso’s leader from January-September 2022 after seizing power from an elected government. Neither him nor Ivory Coast has responded to the allegation.
