Burkina Faso Foils Major Coup Attempt: Military Government
In a shocking revelation, the military government of Burkina Faso announced on Monday that it had successfully thwarted a "major plot" to overthrow the country’s junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. According to reports, the military government first became aware of the plot after intercepting communications between a high-ranking Burkinabé military officer and terrorist leaders.
The plot, which was allegedly masterminded by a group of current and former soldiers, as well as terrorists, aimed to "sow total chaos, and place the country under the supervision of an international organisation", as stated by Security Minister Mahamadou Sana on state television. The minister cited Captain René David Ouédraogo, a soldier who is currently on the run, as one of the key individuals involved in the plot.
Further details revealed that the coup attempt was planned to take place on 16 April 2025, with the plotters intending to swarm the presidential palace. This is not the first attempt to overthrow Captain Traoré, who seized power in a 2022 coup. The junta had already claimed to have foiled a destabilisation plot in September 2024.
The military government, led by Captain Traoré, has been struggling to contain jihadist groups that have been terrorising the country. Despite pledging to fight these groups and seeking support from Russia, security threats persist, with 40% of the country remaining under jihadist control. The Sahel region, where Burkina Faso is located, remains an epicentre of terrorist violence, with the country being the most affected by terrorism in 2024, recording 1,532 deaths, according to the 2025 Global Terrorism Index.
The Burkinabé authorities have accused the instigators of the plot of being based in Ivory Coast, a claim that has yet to be commented on by Ivorian authorities. This is not the first time that Burkina Faso has accused Ivory Coast of hosting conspirators, with similar accusations being made in September 2024.
In a related development, Burkinabe authorities arrested several military personnel, including officers, last week, on suspicion of planning to destabilise the government. The military government has been cracking down on perceived threats to its rule, and it remains to be seen how this latest foiled coup attempt will impact the country’s fragile security situation.
As reported by Africanews.com, the military government is taking steps to ensure the stability of the country, but the ongoing security threats and attempts to overthrow the government pose a significant challenge to its rule. The situation in Burkina Faso remains volatile, and the international community is closely monitoring developments in the country.
The 2025 Global Terrorism Index, which provides a comprehensive overview of terrorist activities around the world, highlights the severity of the security situation in Burkina Faso. According to the report, the country is facing a significant threat from jihadist groups, and the government needs to take a multi-faceted approach to address this issue.
In conclusion, the foiled coup attempt in Burkina Faso is a significant development in the country’s ongoing struggle with security threats and attempts to destabilise the government. As reported by Africanews.com, the military government is taking steps to ensure its rule, but the situation remains volatile, and the international community is closely monitoring developments in the country.
Sources:
Africanews.com – Burkina Faso’s military government says it thwarted major coup attempt
Additional reporting by BBC.
